President Mnangagwa Urges Innovation at 7th SADC Industrialisation Week Opening
His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Incoming Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), officially opened the 7th annual SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW) at the Harare International Convention Centre.
The event, running from July 28 to August 5, 2024, aims to bolster industrial productivity and competitiveness among member states.
In his keynote address, President Mnangagwa emphasized the critical need for innovation to drive industrial growth in the SADC region. “Individually or collectively, we have a duty to spur sustainable growth through a sound and diversified industrial base with wide-ranging new products and jobs for our people,” he stated.
President Mnangagwa called for increased investments in technology, innovation, and research and development to successfully implement the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063.
He urged member states to repurpose outdated institutions to align with future global trends and bridge the technology gap, making the region more competitive.
Highlighting the role of education in supporting regional industrialisation, President Mnangagwa advocated for education systems to be re-engineered to support technology and current global trends. He stressed the importance of transitioning from factor-driven economies to investment-driven and ultimately, knowledge-based economies.
The President appealed to the current generation to foster environments that promote industrialisation, job creation, value-added goods production, and increased export and import earnings. He called for improved resource allocation and sectoral linkages to drive the industrialisation agenda.
H.E. Mr. Elias M. Magosi, SADC Executive Secretary, noted that SIW provides a platform for stakeholders to share experiences on delivering industrialisation and structural transformation in the region.
This year’s theme, “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustainable Economic Growth and Development towards an Industrialised SADC,” underscores the importance of innovation in industrialisation as outlined in the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 (RISDP) and the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063.
Executive Secretary Magosi urged member states to develop policies and regulations that drive industrialisation and support market access for businesses and industries leading this effort.
He expressed gratitude to President Mnangagwa for his dedication to the SADC Industrialisation agenda and for officially opening the 7th SIW.
