Stage set for ZNCC annual congress

Published: 25 June 2014

ALL is set for the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce annual congress where discussions on the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) are expected to take centre stage.The congress, which opens today and ends on Friday, will be held in Victoria Falls.

The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) vice-president, Davison Norupiri, told Business Chronicle yesterday that more than 120 delegates had confirmed participation.

"Preparations for the congress are at an advanced stage. Everything is in place as we speak. All the presentations are ready and more than 120 delegates having so far confirmed participation but obviously there are others that we expect to make last minute rushes," he said.

"As you are aware that government recently launched a new economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, that will be one of the issues that delegates to the congress will deliberate on as we want to translate the blueprint into action. Ten ministers are expected to shed light on Zim-Asset as it is critical for business to really interrogate this blueprint."

Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi among others, are some of the speakers lined up for the event.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha will officially open the congress.

Norupiri said deliberations at this year's congress would also focus on issues to do with corporate governance and corruption as well as the education sector.

Following numerous cases of corruption and lack of corporate governance that have been highlighted in various sectors of the economy through the media recently, this year's ZNCC congress will have such issues on its agenda.

"We will also deliberate on how the education sector can collaborate with business so that industry-oriented graduates are produced from institutions of higher learning. For example, more than 20 years ago the country's universities used to produce graduates that met industry needs but that is no longer the case at the moment. Universities are presently churning out half-baked graduates that do not meet industry needs and thus as stakeholders we are saying can we address that," Norupiri said.

It is hoped that the ZNCC congress will come up with a number of resolutions aimed at improving the economic situation in the country in line with the objectives of Zim-Asset.

Commenting on resolutions that were passed at last year's ZNCC annual congress, Norupiri said:

"We came up with a number of resolutions. For example, we agreed that business and the education sector need to work together and produce industry-oriented graduates. In pursuit of that resolution, we have gone a step further by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with some universities in the country."

He said at the previous congress, delegates also resolved that government should engage business when formulating policies.

"We are happy that the government has agreed to consult us when crafting policies so that we make submissions before a new policy is promulgated. We applaud the government for playing ball and we are working together very well in that regard," Norupiri said.
- chronicle

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