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By Ruramayi Gatsi
THIS year’s CEO Africa Roundtable Conference hosted by KM Financial Solutions is slated for February 17 to 19 in Nyanga where business executives are set to deliberate on the strategies to foster rapid economic growth.
The theme of this year’s conference, which is in its third edition, is “Towards a US$100 Billion Economy by 2030”.
Zimbabwe’s economy is this year projected to grow by around 9,3 percent percent, after registering an 8 percent growth last year.
However, with an anticipated growth rate of 15 percent on an annual basis over a 20-year period, economists contend that a US$100 billion is achievable for the country by 2030. 
In an interview yesterday, KM Financial Solutions chief executive Mr Kenias Mafukidze said  the third edition of the conference would provide an improved platform for innovative business discussions.
“The major purpose of this conference is to bring together the country’s top leadership from both the private and public sector to share ideas and plan the future of the country.
“It is also a networking platform whereby CEOs are brought together to network and exchange ideas.
“This year we are providing breakaway sessions for sectors like tourism, manufacturing, infrastructure and banking whereby they will have the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas on how to improve their various sectors,” said Mr Mafukidze.
Mr Mafukidze added that the vision towards a US$100 billion economy is based on the country’s resources, people, education and agriculture land and that the roundtable conferences have a tradition of learning from other countries therefore this year they will have international speakers lined up for the event.
Keynote speakers at the CEO Africa Roundtable include Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Tapiwa Mashakada, KM Financial Solutions chief executive Mr Kenias Mafukidze, Oxford University professor of economics Dr David Ndii (PhD), and Engen Petroleum’s Mr Johannes Mudzengerere.
Speakers also include Vega Group International’s Mr Dan Vega and Afreximbank’s Mr Denys Denya. 
Presentations and discussions will be facilitated by the following: Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Mr Joseph Kanyekanye, African Sun chief executive Mr Shingi Munyeza, industrialist Nyasha Zhou, Kingdom Financial Holdings founder Mr Nigel Chanakira and Chamber of Mines president Mr Victor Gapare.
KM Financial Solutions business development executive Mr Partridge Sibanda said the conference’s objective was to foster Zimbabweans to adopt a progressive mindset.
“The conference will demonstrate that Zimbabweans can achieve this vision because countries like Singapore, China and South Korea have managed to achieve this yet they have limited resources compared to Zimbabwe,” he said.