Chronicle Editor
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
CONFEDERATION of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and the Swedish Embassy in Zimbabwe have launched a US$2,5 million cooperation agreement, to boost the association’s capacity as a force for industrial transformation, enterprise development and entrepreneurship development.
The partnership is meant to assist CZI in implementing its 2024-2028 “From Institutional Transformation to Industrial Transformation” strategy.
The launch was held in Harare yesterday.
In a statement, CZI said after three years of generating knowledge and evidence to inform its strategy to position CZI for effectiveness, relevance legitimacy, credibility, and leadership, its strategy for the next four years will be based on translating evidence into initiatives that drive both policy and programming to promote industrial and entrepreneurship development.
“On this momentous occasion which comes just after we have turned 100 years as an institution, purpose and legacy have become front and center of how we do things at CZI and this is well captured in the CZI Pay Off Line Enterprise-Leadership-Service.
“CZI is launching its cooperation with the Swedish Embassy in Harare to boost our capacity as a force for industrial transformation, enterprise development and entrepreneurship development,” reads the statement.
“Glocalisation and answering the Africa opportunity call are the areas of results we seek to achieve with enterprise growth and new enterprise development.”
CZI said the manufacturing for manufacturing segment of the manufacturing sector holds the greatest potential in deepening local value chains and positioning Zimbabwean businesses to regain domestic market share and seize market share in the regional and continental value chains.
“If we can regain domestic market share for the intermediate goods market, we will not only significantly reduce import dependency and the import bill but also create local jobs and more local value across the value chains,” they said.
In a speech during the launch, Swedish Ambassador Per Lindgarde said no country has been lifted out of poverty through development assistance alone.
He said trade, private investment, loans and domestic resource mobilisation are necessary for Zimbabwe and other developing countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Stimulating economic growth and trade will therefore be of importance.
“Development cooperation has an important task in close cooperation with private actors to create conditions for employment, trade and investments and strengthen local businesses, so that countries and people can lift themselves out of poverty in the long term.
“It is therefore essential to support small-scale enterprise, agriculture and entrepreneurship with the aim of strengthening local markets and contributing to greater economic freedom and empowerment,” he said.
“This grant, we are signing today, is valued at SEK 25 million (approx. US$2,5 million) over a period of three years, is part of the ongoing financial support availed by the Swedish Government to Zimbabwe in support of Inclusive Economic Development thematic area which focuses on two key areas, – Sustainable livelihoods, including food security and productive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture. – Improved opportunities for productive employment and decent work.”
The Embassy said the cooperation agreement with the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries is in line with the Swedish Government’s new direction.
“We are thus happy to be partnering with CZI in implementing its strategy for 2024-2028 “From Institutional Transformation to Industrial Transformation”.
“CZI’s mandate is supporting economic and business environment analysis and research; promoting business regulatory compliance and playing an intermediary role between business and government and between business and other institutions that enable business in Zimbabwe,” said Ambassador Lindgarde
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