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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
INDUSTRY must be more competitive given that Zimbabwe has ratified the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which is now operational, Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) chief executive Dr Anxious Masuka said.

In his keynote speech at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) annual Midlands awards at a local hotel on Friday, Dr Masuka said Africa has opened up and there is need for local industry to produce competitive goods and services for the billion dollar market.

“Industry must be more competitive especially given that Zimbabwe has ratified the continental free trade area and this is the AfCFTA which is now operational. So for Zimbabwe this gigantic Africa wide event opens opportunities for a potential market of up to 1, 2 billion people.

“But alas, in an environment where our imports and more than our exports, Zimbabwe is unlikely to immediately benefit from this development but however, industry must see this as the challenge, opportunity or obligation to step up, to scale up to produce competitive goods and services for this huge market. I have no doubt in the near future we are going to start benefiting,” he said.

Zimbabwe joined about 15 other member states that ratified the AfCFTA agreement which is in accordance with the Pan-African Vision of “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa”, enshrined in the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Dr Masuka commended ZNCC supporting the industry in business development and promotion and organised business ecosystems.

“The awards continue to nature a competitive culture in the chamber and industry, a competitiveness culture is needed to foster the country’s ability to attract investments, raise per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), create jobs and create shareholder value and also fosters increase in economic activities and raises revenue for Government especially while raising standards of living for Zimbabweans,” he said.

Dr Masuka said there is an urgent imperative for business to be innovative, to be more creative and to swiftly forge strategic units to make the right connections to place Zimbabwe on right global pedestal and indeed the global map.

“An event such as this one is right platform to network to discuss opportunities and mutual beneficiations and make an undertaking for growth. Industry is critical in shaping Zimbabwe economic landscape,” he said.