Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
THE 2025 edition of the Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference (ZEDCON) will convene in Bulawayo this week, with a sharpened focus on crafting resilient macroeconomic and sectoral policies to drive inclusive transformation and deepen regional integration.
The conference will take place at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) from Wednesday to Friday and run under the theme, “Macroeconomic and Sectoral Policies for Broad-based Economic Transformation”.
The high-level forum will bring together policymakers, academics, development practitioners, researchers and captains of industry.
The annual conference traditionally held in Victoria Falls is being hosted in Bulawayo for the first time, and is convened by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, in collaboration with other Government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), development partners, and the private sector.
According to the official programme, President Mnangagwa is expected to officially open the conference.
ZEDCON 2025 comes at a crucial juncture, as the nation consolidates key macroeconomic gains while advancing its Vision 2030 targets.
Six thematic pillars will guide discussions, all aimed at accelerating broad-based growth and reinforcing national development momentum.
“The conference will focus on the following pillars: Macroeconomic Growth and Stability Strategies for an optimal fiscal and monetary policy mix to achieve a stable mono-currency regime. Informal Sector Growth and Resource Mobilisation — successful models that have strengthened the informal sector’s contribution to economic growth,” organisers said.
Deliberations will delve into practical strategies to entrench macroeconomic stability, deepen public confidence in the structured currency Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) — introduced in April 2024 — and reinforce price and exchange rate stability.
With over 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s economic activity driven by informal enterprises, this year’s edition places a strategic spotlight on the sector’s untapped potential. Delegates will examine successful international case studies that have enabled informal businesses to formalise, grow and integrate into mainstream economic activity.
Experts are expected to propose concrete resource mobilisation strategies, formalisation pathways and institutional support mechanisms to unlock the full potential of Zimbabwe’s informal economy.
Infrastructure development will also be a key focus area.
Stakeholders will interrogate innovative financing solutions beyond conventional budgetary allocations. Public-private partnerships (PPPs), infrastructure bonds and blended finance models will be explored as viable mechanisms to unlock long-term investment in energy, transport, ICT and water — critical enablers of industrialisation.
In alignment with global digital trends, ZEDCON 2025 will place digitalisation and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence — at the centre of the economic transformation discourse. Delegates will explore how innovation can boost productivity across agriculture, manufacturing, governance, and financial services.
Tapping into diaspora capital and skills will also form a core part of discussions.
The conference will assess global best practices in designing transparent and inclusive policy frameworks that facilitate trust and mutual gain between Government and the Zimbabwean diaspora. As Zimbabwe positions itself to reap full benefits from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the conference will explore strategic avenues to strengthen domestic value chains, harmonise policies, and bolster competitiveness.
Trade experts are expected to unpack market access opportunities and identify structural reforms required to position Zimbabwe as a key regional player. ZEDCON 2025 is expected to produce actionable recommendations that will inform Government policy formulation, guide private sector investment decisions, and strengthen Zimbabwe’s global economic positioning.
