Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
THE Government has challenged the country’s captains of industry to capitalise on emerging global opportunities, particularly the new zero-tariff access to the Chinese market, as it seeks to accelerate industrial growth and expand Zimbabwe’s economy to US$12 billion by 2030.
The call was made by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, while officially opening the 2026 Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Annual Congress in Victoria Falls.
Speaking under the theme, “From Resilience to Competitiveness: Charting a New Path for Sustainable Industrial Growth”, Minister Ndlovu said Zimbabwe must now transition from economic resilience to sustained competitiveness and position itself more aggressively in regional and global markets.
Central to the Government’s industrialisation drive is the opportunity presented by China’s recent decision to grant 100 percent zero-tariff treatment to all African countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Beijing.
The initiative, which came into effect on May 1, 2026, provides Zimbabwean producers with expanded access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
Minister Ndlovu said the development builds on China’s earlier removal of tariffs for 33 least developed African countries in December 2024.
“This historic development opens access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets,” he said.
He urged local businesses to view the arrangement as an opportunity to increase exports of processed agricultural products, manufactured goods and value-added minerals.
However, Minister Ndlovu cautioned that preferential market access alone would not guarantee economic gains without increased productive capacity and competitiveness.
“The task before us is to produce competitively, consistently and at scale,” he said.
The call forms part of the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy 2 (ZNIDP2), which targets an increase in the manufacturing sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product from US$7 billion to US$12 billion by 2030.
To achieve that target, Minister Ndlovu said the country must accelerate value addition and beneficiation across key sectors of the economy.
“Zimbabwe must break the cycle of perennially exporting raw and semi-finished goods while importing value-added finished products,” he said. “This model exports jobs, exports value and limits economic transformation.”
Minister Ndlovu also challenged local industry to develop home-grown solutions, particularly in support of the Government’s agricultural mechanisation programme, rather than relying excessively on imported technologies.
“I see no logic in continuously celebrating technologies developed elsewhere when we have the capacity ourselves,” he said, echoing President Mnangagwa’s philosophy that Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo (the nation is built by its owners).
To enhance competitiveness and improve the quality of locally produced goods, the minister said his Ministry is finalising a National Quality Policy aimed at strengthening standards, quality assurance systems and consumer protection.
The policy is expected to improve the ability of Zimbabwean products to meet international market requirements and compete effectively on the global stage.
“We must build an economy that produces more, exports more, innovates more and competes more effectively,” said the minister.
