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Business Reporter
THE local manufacturing sector has engaged experts from The Netherlands to impart knowledge on lean manufacturing aimed at reducing the cost of production.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) Matabeleland Chamber president Mr Walter Chigwada said the coming of experts was borne out of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between ZimTrade and PUM of The Netherlands. “ZimTrade has signed an MoU with PUM of The Netherlands, which will see a group of experts from different sectors coming into the country to impart skills in different areas.

“As a result of this agreement, as industry, we’re also expecting experts from The Netherlands who will be coming to enhance knowledge on lean manufacturing so that industrialists can reduce cost of production during manufacturing processes,” he said.

ZimTrade public relations officer Mr Dillon Kamutenga said the programme to bring experts from The Netherlands had begun. He said some of the experts in areas such as horticulture had visited the country and conducted workshops with local farmers.

“We’ve got an MoU that we signed in April this year with PUM where experts in different sectors come into the country to offer their expertise. Recently, we have had horticultural experts conducting training workshops with farmers in the horticulture industry.

“We’re also encouraging companies to bring the experts on their own if possible so that relevant expertise can be enhance or imparted,” said Mr Kamutenga.

The CZI Matabeleland Chapter has said companies in Bulawayo were gradually recovering despite the difficult economic climate with improved performance having been noted in recent months.

This was due to a number of initiatives that the Government was implementing such as the recently promulgated Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016.

The SI removes several goods from the Open General Import Licence.  Companies whose products are listed under SI 64/2016 have improved on their factories’ throughput as well as capacity utilisation.