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The congress, which will be held under the theme “Restoring manufacturing as a key pillar for leap-frogging Zimbabwe economic growth,” will take place from 25 to 28 July.
“Registration has started and we are looking forward to seeing between 120 and 150 delegates participating,” said CZI chief executive Mr Clifford Sileya in a telephone interview from Harare yesterday.
He said the congress would focus on highlighting the Industrial Development Policy and the National Trade Policy launched by Government early this year.
The congress, he said, would also focus on key imperatives for restoring the manufacturing sector.
According to the CZI manufacturing survey report released last year, capacity utilisation in industry has improved since 2009 from an average of 10 percent before the liberalisation of the economy to 57.2 in 2011.
“The congress will also focus on ways of doing business in the global economy, and measures to adopt sustainable economic development,” he said.
At their last congress in Victoria Falls, CZI came out with a number of resolutions on the need to improve Zimbabwe’s power generation to stimulate productivity in the local manufacturing sector.
“The resolutions at our last congress focused on energy, where we agreed that Zesa should improve on power generation and ensure that more electricity is supplied to industries. As industry, we want the issue of power to be addressed,” said Mr Sileya.
He said they also resolved that Government should come out clear on GMO foods.
“We have noted with concern that Government is flip-flopping when it comes to matters to do with GMOs.
“While Government has refused the production of GMOs, the country is importing GMO foods that we still eat, so it is imperative for Government to explain where they stand,” he said.
“The banking situation in the country has gradually improved recently, but as industry we a looking for long-term affordable funding from the financial services sector. Interest rates being charged by banks are high, making it difficult for industries to sustain operations.”
Industry and Commerce Minister Professor Welshman Ncube is expected to officially open the congress while the Brazilian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Marcia Maro da Silva is expected to give a key note address.
“Brazil is one of the BRICS countries and that country has developed so fast to the extent that its Gross Domestic Product is now higher than that of the United Kingdom. We are expecting her (Brazilian ambassador) to share with us information on how her country has succeeded in its economic development programmes such as the blending of petrol with ethanol,” said Mr Sileya.
Colletta Dube