By Staff Writer
THE United Nations has implored Zimbabwe to adopt a Green Industrialization Strategy if the economy is to grow sustainably for the benefit of future generations.
The remarks were made at the ZNIDP stakeholder validation workshop in Harare Tuesday in a bid to fine tune the policy framework set to run between 2024 to 2030.
The National Industrial Development Policy is the principal policy which drives the industrialization agenda of the country.
This Policy is informed by Vision 2030, the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), as well as regional and international policies on industrialization.
The forthcoming framework succeeds the ZNIDP 1 which ran from 2019 and will be folded at the end of 2023.
The successive draft document which seeks to build on the initial one envisions attaining a manufacturing growth rate of at least 2 % per annum, manufacturing sector investment growth rate of 3% per annum while increasing the share of the Manufacturing Value Added (MVA) in GDP to 20% by 2030.
Addressing delegates at an event to gather stakeholder input into the ZNIDP in Harare Tuesday, the UN resident coordinator, Edward Kallon urged the Southern Africa nation to go green in its attempt to spur industrialization.
“In this mix, allow me to emphasize the importance of green industrialization and the opportunities it provides for a sustainable future.
“Infusing green initiatives into value-chain activities from the sourcing and processing of raw materials, and the marketing and selling of finished products to customers has the capacity to spur economic growth and development, anchor transformation and provide opportunities for our people,” he said.
He said the adoption of new innovations, technologies and business models that utilize natural resources optimally and efficiently is key to the green path and Zimbabwe should embrace that.
“The current euphoria around the green energy transition puts Zimbabwe at the centre of the global value chain in the supply of green energy. Our policy framework should be recalibrated to ensure optimal benefit from resource endowments including through linkages,” added Kallon.
