Modalities to address economic challenges on cards

Published: 03 October 2013

GOVERNMENT is in the process of approving a short and medium term economic plan to address challenges faced by the industry, a Cabinet minister has said.

Addressing delegates at the launch of the Manufacturing Sector Survey report yesterday, Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha said the Zimbabwe Programme for Social and Economic Transformation will be launched by President Robert Mugabe once it was finalised.

"This programme will be buttressed by immediate resolution of the outstanding issue of the development and nurturing our dying industry through financial and tariff support," he said.

"To this end, I have already engaged my counterpart in the Finance ministry to agree on the immediate modalities and measures to resuscitate an industry that is already in comatose."

He said the document borrows some of its contents from the Medium-Term Plan and would be the new government's focus.

"Consultations have been done and the Office of the President and Cabinet is co-ordinating the process and last night (Tuesday night) they had a meeting.

"I have no doubt in my mind, even without the benefit of having seen the survey results, that the clarion call will be made for government to take the urgent and necessary measures to resuscitate an industry that is already in a comatose," Bimha said.

The document followed other economic plans such as Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan 1 and 2, Medium-Term Plan, the Industrial Development Policy and the Trade Policy launched by government during the tenure of the Government of National Unity.

- newsday

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