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Minister Patrick Chinamasa

Business Reporter
THE business community in Bulawayo meets at a city hotel tomorrow to discuss key highlights and business opportunities arising from the 2018 National Budget which was presented by Finance and Economic Development Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, last Thursday.

The $5.1 billion “new economic order” oriented fiscal policy statement has excited economic analysts and a diversity of stakeholders who have commended the bold measures taken by President Mnangagwa’s Government to trim public expenditure and channel more effort towards capacitating the productive sectors and turning around the economy.

The Chronicle in partnership with IMC Worldwide will host the event which will be attended by industry and commerce executives, members of the House of Assembly, small to medium enterprises representatives, farmers, economic experts and policy analysts among others.

The meeting follows a previous engagement in October when the nation’s liveliest newspaper hosted a similar event in which business stakeholders submitted their views on what the budget policy statement should include.

Economists, Dr Gift Mugano, Mr Victor Nyoni and Mr Morris Mpala will lead the deliberations focusing on key topics that include opportunities for Bulawayo industry revival, special economic zones, dealing with liquidity and exports, unlocking small to medium enterprise potential, among others.

Dr Mugano, who participated in budget consultations, has said he was pleased that a number of policy measures, which were submitted by stakeholders, were taken into account.

The National Budget Policy Statement presents a number of policy measures aimed at stimulating the economy. The key highlights include dealing with corruption, amendment of the indigenisation law, policy measures aimed at the agricultural sector, parastatal reforms, and measures aimed at addressing the budget deficit.

Minister Chinamasa was bold to deal with the budget deficit, a problem which largely contributed to the cash crisis through expansion of liquidity that is not backed by hard cash.