Business Reporter
THE European Union (EU) has implored Zimbabwe to create a conducive environment for business underscoring that such a prerequisite is the sole ingredient for meaningful growth.
Addressing delegates at the just ended Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) 2025 Annual Congress, EU envoy to Zimbabwe Jobst von Kirchmann said in the absence of the best operating environment , other existing positive national attributes will not yield the desired results.
“First of all, you know, you always want a good location, resources available, a growing export and a skilled labour force. A lot of these things are available in Zimbabwe. So why does the manufacturing sector remain low? So, the manufacturing sector, in my view, falls along with or has the same criteria as you need for any other business as well,” Kirchmann said.
“And that is like plenty. So, when you have a very nice plant, and it looks beautiful, and that’s your business idea, that plant is only growing if you put it in fertile soil. We all agree with that. If the soil is not good, the plant cannot grow.”
He said there was a need for a clear national business strategy.
“So, the government needs to be fully committed to letting businesses thrive,” Kirchmann added.
“An investment in people, education, health, sufficient investment capital available on the market, an export-oriented industrialisation or service growth, strong institutions, a solid rule of law, regulatory clarity for predictability and a low level of corruption, and finally, a good infrastructure of roads, railways, electricity and water.”
He said this was the recipe for growth, worldwide, in economies that took off, where the manufacturing sector went from 5-6% to 25% economic contribution.
