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Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
BULAWAYO is set to host the inaugural National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) Annual Competitiveness Summit next week at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre.
According to the commission, the high-level gathering will be held from February 19 to 20, with President Mnangagwa expected to officiate.
The platform is set to provide a dynamic convergence of Government ministries, departments and agencies, captains of industry, think tanks, and development partners.
Others include NGOs, international partners, local authorities, academia, and State-owned enterprises to engage in dialogue and develop sustainable reforms and resolutions that will improve productivity and competitiveness.
In a concept note shared with Chronicle, the commission stated that hosting the summit aligns with international best practices, such as the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils Annual Summit, and supports one of the commission’s functions which include providing a platform for dialogue between the public and private sectors, labour, academia, and non-state actors on the subject of competitiveness.
The event will serve as a powerful tool for building national consensus on enhancing the country’s global competitiveness, fostering collaboration, innovation, and adaptability among stakeholders.
“The summit will provide a platform for robust deliberations on competitiveness gaps and possible areas of policy intervention. This will result in the formulation of sustainable reforms to enhance competitiveness, which is critical for attracting both local and foreign investment and boosting industry productivity across all sectors of the economy, thereby increasing confidence in the economy,” said NCC.
The NCC is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament (Chapter 14:36) and falls under the purview of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
It is mandated to facilitate the creation of a competitive environment for Zimbabwean businesses through the development and co-ordination of key policy improvements required for domestic, regional, and global competitiveness, directly contributing to the achievement of Vision 2030.
According to the commission, the summit’s objectives include identifying policy gaps that hinder national competitiveness from the private sector’s perspective and developing resolutions and strategies to address these challenges.
It also aims to unpack the role of local authorities and develop strategies for enhancing competitiveness, raise awareness of the Regulatory Impact Assessment tool, benchmark Zimbabwe’s performance against other countries, draw lessons to improve competitiveness and propose key areas of intervention for fostering a competitive business environment.
“The summit resolutions are expected to anchor competitiveness policy interventions by the Government to transform our economy in response to global shocks,” said the NCC.
The successful implementation of the summit resolutions will contribute to improving the country’s competitiveness, ultimately leading to sustainable economic growth and better living standards for the general populace.
“These aspirations of the summit align with the NDS1 objectives of improving productivity and competitiveness,” said NCC.
Deliberations will also include presentations and interactive panel discussions on topics such as innovation, infrastructure, labour productivity, local authorities’ competitiveness, and standards. — @SikhulekelaniM1
Online Reporter