Online Reporter
Business Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council is today hosting the Khumbul’ekhaya Investment Conference in Harare as it takes proactive steps to boost economic development in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city.
The conference is running under the theme, “Khumbul’ Ekhaya Investment” and more than 150 delegates are in attendance.
Bulawayo City Council economic development officer, Mr Kholisani Moyo, earlier said the choice for Harare to host the indaba was informed by development realities and buttressed by the Second Republic’s mantra that “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo”, after the realisation that no one else can build the country except its own citizens.
Bulawayo was once host to a thriving industrial empire, but the city has faced significant economic challenges, leading to a migration of talent and investments to other parts of the country, particularly Harare.
To reverse this trend, the conference aims to reconnect Bulawayo-born entrepreneurs and professionals now based in Harare with their roots, while exploring potential investment opportunities that could revitalise the city’s economy.
The conference has several key objectives, including promoting economic growth, facilitating knowledge exchange, and showcasing potential investment avenues in key sectors such as manufacturing, technology, tourism, and agriculture.
It is providing a platform for networking, sharing business trends, and discussing successful case studies specific to Bulawayo’s market.
The event is part of the Bulawayo City Council’s efforts to target potential investors in the diaspora and across the country, with a focus on tapping into the substantial community of Bulawayo-born professionals and entrepreneurs residing in Harare.
Future editions of the conference are planned for Bulawayo and other key diaspora hubs, with the potential for virtual components to reach an even broader global audience.
This initiative demonstrates the council’s commitment to promoting economic development in Bulawayo and creating opportunities for growth and investment in the city.
Several large companies maintain their headquarters or significant operations in Bulawayo, despite the city’s economic challenges.
Notable examples include diversified edible oil processor United Refineries, farm implements maker Zimplow Limited, and Ref-Air (Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Services), an engineering firm with a manufacturing facility.
Additionally, Bitumen World, a road construction and asphalt specialist, started in Bulawayo. While some companies, like Innscor, have expanded their operations nationally, their roots and some key functions may still be based in Bulawayo and creating opportunities for growth and investment in the city.
Online Reporter