Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. BULAWAYO, Apr.25 (NewsDayLive)- Government says it wants to scale up processing of all natural resources earmarked for export to enhance value-addition and job creation.
This was disclosed by Industry and Commerce minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu while addressing exhibitors and traders a the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair early this week.
“At the heart of our industrialisation strategy lies the fundamental principle of value addition of our agricultural produce and mineral beneficiation.
“For too long, our economy has been trapped in a model of exporting raw materials only to import finished goods at exorbitant prices,” Ndhlovu said.
” My ministry is implementing the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan (2024 – 2025) to address immediate challenges in the industrial and commercial sectors and laying a foundation for accelerated industrial development going forward.”
He added that his ministry is coming up with concrete measures to ensure that abundant natural resources, from lithium to platinum and cotton to tobacco, are processed locally.
“Thus we will be creating jobs and retaining value within our borders,” Ndhlovu said.
“The link between industrialization and employment cannot be overstated.
:As we revive our manufacturing sector, we are creating thousands of jobs while simultaneously addressing the skills gap through targeted vocational training programmes.
:Technology transfer also forms a crucial component of this process, as we seek to equip our workforce with 21st century manufacturing capabilities like Artificial Intelligence and other digital skills.”
He also highlighted that important substitution remains a priority area.
“Every dollar we save by producing goods locally is a dollar that strengthens our currency and our economy. We are therefore supporting local manufacturers through favourable procurement policies and access to affordable financing,” the minister added.
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Sectors currently being targeted include leather, cotton, bus and truck, cement and pharmaceuticals,” he said.
“Our small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent the backbone of this industrial transformation.
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Through deliberate policies, we are creating strong linkages between large industries and SMEs, ensuring that the benefits of industrialization are widely shared across the economy.”
None of this will be possible without modern infrastructure, the minister argued.
“Government is prioritising upgrades to our transportation networks, energy systems and digital infrastructure to create an enabling environment for industrial growth,” he said.
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