Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]
THE National Competitiveness Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat), is set to unveil a national competitiveness baseline aimed at identifying economic performance gaps and guiding policy interventions to improve the country’s business environment.
The findings of the National Competitiveness Baseline Survey (NCBS), scheduled for release in Harare on Wednesday, are expected to provide policymakers and businesses with data to assess Zimbabwe’s competitiveness and track the impact of economic reforms.
The survey seeks to address a shortage of reliable, nationally representative data on domestic competitiveness that reflects Zimbabwe’s unique economic and business environment. It will establish a reference point for identifying constraints to business performance and informing measures to improve productivity and economic growth.
“The NCBS addresses the need for reliable, nationally representative domestic competitiveness data that reflects Zimbabwe’s unique economic and business environment.
“It establishes a baseline for tracking competitiveness, identifying gaps and assessing the impact of policy reforms,” the two entities said in a joint statement.
The initiative comes as Zimbabwe pursues economic transformation under its national development agenda, with industrial competitiveness, investment attraction and improved business performance remaining key to sustainable economic growth.
The survey also responds to recommendations from the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) Mid-Term Review, which identified national competitiveness as a priority and mandated the NCC to develop periodic competitiveness indices.
The baseline is expected to provide a framework for monitoring changes in the country’s competitiveness over time, enabling policymakers to assess whether reforms are translating into measurable improvements in the business environment.
The study is guided by four pillars — innovativeness, inclusiveness, sustainability and resilience — reflecting a broad approach to competitiveness that goes beyond conventional measures of economic performance.
“Guided by the four pillars of innovativeness, inclusiveness, sustainability and resilience, the study draws insights from the public, private and informal sectors.
“The launch will present key findings, priority competitiveness indicators and policy recommendations, providing a platform for dialogue among Government, the private sector, academia, development partners and civil society,” the joint statement said.
The findings are expected to inform policy discussions, with the proposed competitiveness indicators providing a basis for tracking progress and identifying areas where further reforms may be needed.
The launch will also give stakeholders an opportunity to examine the findings and discuss how the recommendations can be translated into practical measures to strengthen Zimbabwe’s economic competitiveness.
