Govt promotes use of locally produced iron and steel

Tanaka Nyambo

THE Government has taken deliberate efforts to support the engineering industry in order to achieve availability of locally produced iron and steel.

The local iron and steel industry has been on a pause since the closure of Ziscosteel.

Douglas Runyowa, a chief director in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said Sustainable Development Goal 8 was anchored on promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

He said it targets to achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, with a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.

“The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is prioritising the development and strengthening of already existing value chains and beneficiation of minerals.

“The strategic thrust under this is to structurally transform the economy through strengthening the value chains and beneficiation of the country’s primary products as well as domesticating these value chains,” he said.

Runyowa said the process of rebalancing the economy, and reversing structural regression, was central to stimulating inclusive and sustained growth patterns that enable more people to benefit from higher productivity levels in more advanced segments of the economy.

He said the Government was also working on policies that promote the use of locally-produced iron and steel in order to increase demand for local production and create jobs.

This includes promoting the use of local steel in infrastructure projects and enforcing regulations that require the use of locally-sourced materials in manufacturing.