NCC report highlights strategies to create jobs an...

NCC report highlights strategies to create jobs and boost the economy

Audrey Galawu

Assistant Editor

The Secretary for Industry and Commerce Dr Thomas Utete Wushe has called for collaborative effort in addressing gaps identified in the Zimbabwe Competitiveness Report to create jobs and improve the economy.

Speaking at the at the launch of the 2023 Zimbabwe Competitiveness report and the Soya Bean Value Chain Competitiveness report on Thursday last week, Dr Utete Wushe said what is now needed is for stakeholders to work together.

He highlighted that it is critical to note that the ZCR and the Soya Bean Value Chain Report analyse the competitiveness position of the country during the period when the country experienced exchange rate and price instability emanating from speculation.

The proposed areas of intervention emanating from the Report are critical to address the identified competitiveness gaps and opportunities.

“The Soya Bean Value Chain is one of the ten value chains prioritised for implementation during the National Development Strategy 1 period to promote industrialisation and the domestication of local value chains.

“The Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy (2019–2023) and NDS1 have laid a solid foundation for the structural transformation of our economy through the development and domestication of key industrial sectors including; value addition, and beneficiation in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and tourism.

“Furthermore, with the African Continental Free Trade Area liberalising markets, competitiveness is now at the forefront of our economic agenda.

The AfCFTA presents opportunities and challenges that require us to enhance the country’s competitiveness, to be able to compete and tap into the opportunities that come with the enlarged market,” he said.

He also added that the two reports identified and benchmarked the major factors contributing to low competitiveness in Zimbabwe by flagging out essential conditions for competitiveness, competitiveness inputs, competitiveness outputs and sustainable growth and development.

“I therefore, implore every one of us to embrace this challenge collectively to enhance our country's competitiveness and seize the opportunities presented by the enlarged market.

“The two Reports provide us with the current status of our competitiveness and propose areas for intervention in order to achieve economic structural transformation and sustainable productivity. These are critical for the country to create more jobs, boost economic growth and overall improve the welfare of the Zimbabwean citizenry.”