Online Reporter
Zimpapers Business Hub
THE second edition of the Bulawayo Economic Development Conference (BEDCON 2026), initially scheduled for 19-21 August has been postponed to October.
The conference, organised by the City of Bulawayo will now be held from 7 to 9 October alongside the local authority’s 2026 City of Bulawayo Research and Innovation Seminar (COBRIS).
Running under the theme, “The implementation imperative: Delivering sustainable prosperity through collaborative industry,” BEDCON 2026 is expected to bring together key stakeholders from Government, business, academia, civil society and development partners.
The conference comes at a time when Bulawayo is seeking to leverage its industrial heritage, strategic location and skilled workforce to attract investment, revive industry and strengthen its contribution to national economic development.
BEDCON 2026 will focus on six key pillars covering governance, policy and ease of doing business; entrepreneurship, MSME growth and access to finance; economic devolution and multi-sector collaboration; infrastructure and workspace security; innovation, intellectual property and sustainable industry; as well as market access and global competitiveness.
Through the engagements, the city seeks to create a platform where policy-makers, researchers, investors and businesses can identify practical interventions to unlock economic opportunities and address constraints affecting industry and enterprise development.
The conference is also expected to strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors, with the city positioning research, innovation and enterprise development as key drivers of sustainable economic growth.
