The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
YOUNG leadership in both the public and private sector should take a leading role in making a lasting impact in communities through tackling societal problems.
Addressing delegates at the Young CEOs Business Forum (YCBF) 2022 Dinner on Thursday in Bulawayo, The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, said participation of young entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe was critical in driving innovation, Gross Domestic Product Growth, employment creation, and sound strategies to stay relevant in the ever-mutating global economic environment.
The YCBF 2022 which ran from 9 to 10 March was hosted by CEO Africa Roundtable under the theme, “Breakthrough to excellence: The First Million is the Hardest.”
“While projections are that the country’s economy will grow by 5,5 percent in 2022, young leadership in both the public and private sector should take a leading role in making a lasting impact in communities through tackling societal problems.”
Minister Ncube said inclusion of vibrant leadership in economic development contributes to the realisation of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and attainment of a prosperous upper middle-income economy by 2030.
She commended businesses and start-ups that have demonstrated resilience in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic left a trail of destruction across the globe in 2020 and 2021, leaving room for young people to leverage on technological advancements to champion economic development and stay relevant in business.
To all those who contributed positively to the development of our GDP and those who are going to be recognized in the Top 15 Young CEOs in Zimbabwe, well done, continue with the hard work.
Together we can contribute to an upper middle-income economy by 2030,” added Minister Ncube.
In a speech read on her behalf by the ministry’s principal economist, Ms Gamuchirai Mthethwa, the Permanent Secretary of Industry and Commerce Dr Mavis Sibanda said the Young CEO’s Business Forum was an excellent platform for young business people to interact with their counterparts.
Dr Sibanda said that it enables them to learn from each other’s experiences and collaborate where there are opportunities to do so. She said in Zimbabwe, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which are predominantly made up of the youth, form the backbone of the economy.
She said some of the areas that the Government was looking at included improving the access to financing, and strengthening the ability of SMEs to manage their businesses professionally as they grow.
Other cross cutting incentives for every business, Dr Sibanda said was the rebate of duty on the importation of capital equipment which was critical for any business venture especially a new one.
CEO Africa Roundtable board member, by Mr Kenias Mafukidze said powerful ideas and entrepreneurial thinking exhibited during the proceedings of the YCBF 2022 should be further developed to champion economic development across Zimbabwe and Africa.
To mark off the end of the YCBF 2022, top 15 Young CEOs in Zimbabwe were recognised and awarded with certificates.
