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GOVERNMENT is identifying commissioners for the National Competitiveness Commission with indications that the organ is expected to be functional soon.
The NCC, which is designed to improve the competitiveness of local products, was born out of the National Incomes and Pricing Commission.
The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr Mike Bimha, told industry representatives at the recent Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries’ annual congress in Gweru that the private sector would constitute 85 percent of the NCC.
“We have already been given permission to put this commission in place; I am now looking into putting the board into place fairly soon and I would like to see 85 percent to 90 percent of the commissioners on this board coming from the private sector.
“We are already approaching some of you and also to get recommendations from business associations of people who are prepared to put their time into this commission, which I think will be very useful in achieving competitiveness,” said Mr Bimha.
Industrial competitiveness is a company/sub-sector’s ability to produce and sell goods and services profitably.
The CZI 2014 Manufacturing Survey shows that industry is saddled by liquidity and utilities constraints, obsolete equipment, low consumer demand, infrastructure deficiencies and high competition from imports.
The NCC is supposed to identify cost drivers in the economy and guarantee competitiveness.
Added Minister Bimha: “With this commission, we look at a whole array of issues that we think inhibit our competitiveness. As a Ministry, our role is to assist business to thrive by creating an enabling environment because we understand for our economy to expand, we need a thriving private sector.
“The same commission will not only look at the cost of doing business but also look at the ease of doing business.”
He said the cost of doing business in Zimbabwe was relatively higher than in the rest of Southern Africa.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter