adminNgoni Dapira Business Correspondent
NORWEGIAN development economist and renowned international speaker Professor Erik Reinert will be the main speaker at the 2014 Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries annual congress slated for Mutare from 30 July to 1 August. The congress will run under the theme“Taking Zimbabwe’s Industry to the next level”.
CZI chief executive officer Mr Clifford Sileya confirmed that all preparations were on course and all the anticipated speakers had confirmed their participation.
Mr Sileya said the extraordinary thing about Prof Reinert is that apart from being a distinguished academic, he is a thriving businessman with big businesses in three countries across Europe.
Internationally, Prof Reinert is known for his acclaimed book, “How rich nations got rich and why poor countries remain poor.”
Mr Sileya added that the congress would assume a highly participatory and interactive set-up to usher constructive debate for nation building.
“Our focus at the congress will be on how to develop and improve our economy looking at the economic enablers.
“As CZI we have taken a leading role on championing the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable and Socio-Economic Transformation and at the congress we will further critique the blueprint to take it to the next level.
“Each session will be formulated around a panel discussion on a selected sub-theme, following a presentation on the sub-theme. The discussions will also be opened to the floor for a full interactive session.
“The whole idea behind this will be to allow the participants greater contribution to the whole process of the congress, and ultimately the crafting of congress resolutions,” said Mr Sileya.
He said they also invited a speaker from Mexico representing the MINT economies comprising of Mauritius, Indonesia, Nigeria
and Turkey.
The MINT economies are emerging economies just like the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) economies.
Mr Sileya said locally there will be speakers from both the private sector and the Government ministries.
Online Reporter