Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Raj Modi has reaffirmed the Ministry’s support for local industry, the importance of value addition and the local investment opportunities within Bulawayo’s industrial sector.
This comes as the Ministry continues to drive the reindustrialisation agenda through policies and programmes that strengthen local production, empower domestic enterprises and attract new investment.
Speaking at the recent Bulawayo Business Buy and Sell Exhibition, the Deputy Minister said rebuilding Bulawayo’s economic might through local industry, value addition and investment was critical.
“As a Ministry key pillars of our support include the local content strategy. This national strategy promotes the use of locally produced goods and services across all sectors. By increasing local sourcing, we retain value within the country, stimulate domestic production, and create sustainable jobs,” he said.
“The Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy 2 (ZNIDP2) (2026–2030) the policy emphasises productivity enhancement, technology upgrading, and support for companies in strategic value chains such as textiles, leather, metals, pharmaceuticals, and agro-processing.”
He said on ease of doing business and investment facilitation, working through the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and provincial investment desks, the Ministry ensures that investors receive clear guidance, reduced bureaucracy, and access to industrial land and infrastructure.
Deputy Minister Modi said through these interventions, the Ministry was creating an ecosystem where local manufacturers, innovators and entrepreneurs can thrive.
“The second issue is the importance of value addition. Value addition is at the heart of Zimbabwe’s industrialisation and export growth strategy. It means moving from being mere producers of raw materials to processors and manufacturers of finished goods that command higher market value.
“For Bulawayo, value addition has multiple benefits, it revives dormant industries such as textiles, leather, metal engineering and food processing. It creates quality jobs for youth and women,” he added.
“It builds local value chains where cotton becomes clothing, hides become leather goods, and grain becomes processed food. It reduces imports, strengthens the local currency, and improves the balance of trade.”
He said the Ministry was encouraging all producers to move up the value chain, while Government, through the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and moving into NDS2, is prioritising support for industrial clusters and value chain linkages in key sectors from agriculture to manufacturing, from mining to services.
The Deputy Minister said for local investment opportunities in Bulawayo’s industrial sector, the city’s strategic advantages position it as a natural hub for reindustrialisation and investment.
