Promoting Industrial Development and Competitiveness in Zimbabwe and Zambia

Industrial development was the topic when Chamber Trade Sweden together with Zimbabwe’s and Zambia’s Chambers of Commerce held a Chamber Academy event to promote competitiveness on a macro and micro level.

“It was the first time we did a Chamber Academy Industrial Development in Zimbabwe and the response from the business community was overwhelmingly positive” said Malin Dacke from CTS.

Key speakers from the Zimbabwean government and business community contributed to the program giving their views on the challenges ahead rebuilding the country´s industry and agriculture. Swedish companies and experts shared their experiences and knowledge on economic development and competitiveness, public private partnerships and corruption, sustainability and green technology, production and sourcing, innovation, leadership and management.

In Zambia it was the second time Chamber Academy on industrial development enabling us to follow up on prioritized policy advocacy issues and individual companies. The Zambian chambers presented a new report benchmarking competitiveness and taxes in Southern Africa which will provide a base for dialogue with the Zambian government. On a micro company level workshops were held tied to risk assessment and individual action plans for improving business. It was great to see the impact that the more soft issues on leadership and recruitment had on the workshop discussions.

As Tina Kalonga, a very driven young Zambian business women from Entry Point East Africa, in the photo above chose to summarize it: “Skills can be learned and acquired, good attitude is rarely found, talent is a gift”.

The goal of Chamber Academy Industrial Development is to improve the dialogue between business and government and the chambers support and service to member companies and the business community helping them become more competitive. The seminars which were held in Lusaka and Harare gathered over 50 businesses each.

For more information contact malin.dacke@chambertrade.se