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Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) board chair, , has emphasised that competitiveness is crucial for business viability, driving innovation, and ensuring the production of high-quality, affordable products.
She said this enables industries to compete effectively in both local and global markets.
Speaking at the inaugural Competitiveness Summit in Bulawayo, Mrs Chimuka said the commission organised the summit as a platform for in-depth discussions on addressing barriers that hinder Zimbabwe’s global competitiveness.

The summit, themed “Building Sustainability Towards Enhanced Productivity and Competitiveness in Zimbabwe,” aims to align industry strategies with national economic goals.
She said President Mnangagwa’s scheduled attendance tomorrow underscores the significance of competitiveness in the country’s economic development.
“Competitiveness is a key pillar in sustaining business viability, fostering innovation, and ensuring the production of quality, affordable products. This allows our industries to compete more effectively,” she said.
Mrs Chimuka said the summit’s objectives align with the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), both of which focus on enhancing productivity and competitiveness.
“As NDS1 concludes in December 2025, the outcomes of this summit will provide crucial input for shaping NDS-2,” she said.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce recently unveiled the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan for the period 2024-2025.
This initiative aims to enhance the domestic economy by promoting the procurement of locally produced goods.
She added that the discussions will help refine government strategies for improving competitiveness, identify policy gaps that hinder industrial growth, and provide insights from a private-sector perspective.
“The summit will also serve as a benchmarking platform, allowing Zimbabwe to assess its performance against other countries and formulate recommendations for a more competitive business environment,” she said.