Manicaland minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Misheck Mugadza has hailed the successful hosting of the second edition of the Six Nine Construction-hosted Mutare Business Symposium highlighting that the third edition next year must see a bigger and better showcase with the entire business community in the province attending.
Speaking at the Friday event Mugadza said a business engagement of this magnitude was a welcome development, which must be embraced by all progressive Zimbabweans.
“This stakeholder engagement initiative is instrumental in promoting excellence and productivity at the same time seeing local businesses becoming brands,” Mugadza said.
“The initiative dovetails with the leaving no one and no place behind drive under the government of His Excellency President Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and it is my hope that the third edition next year is bigger and better with the entire business community in Manicaland attending.”
Mugadza alluded to the need for value addition to products from the local industry so that the economy benefits more from the country's resources.
“Beyond running sustainable business operations, our local industry must also invest in value addition so that we derive more from our natural resources and raw materials,” he said.
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“Exporting unprocessed goods and raw materials won't do us any good as a country and I challenge the local business community to go all out in adding value to local products for the export market.”
The business symposium, which was attended by local businesses, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the local authority, ZimTrade and supported by companies like Halsteds, Invictus Steel Africa and Sky Bricks, was highly interactive with speakers sharing market tested and tailor made strategies on how to grow in business.
“We are happy with the turn out and quality of engagement at the second edition of this annual initiative,” said event organiser and Six Nine Construction marketing director Gloria Nyasha Mudekwa.
“As Six Nine Construction, we are happy and proud to be the brains behind this value adding initiative and it is our hope that over time it contributes to the growth of the local economy and indeed our country as a whole.
“We want to see local businesses becoming brands that compete at global level.”
The event, which was co-hosted by legal practitioner and entrepreneur Shingai Mujeri and media practitioner Cherry Blossom Edwards, was a good business showcase and the various topics discussed gave impetus to the whole engagement.
The first speaker was sales expert Paul River Williams who spoke on the need to become value adding brands that can withstand the pressures of the market.
“The business world has become highly competitive and it calls for innovation that positions you for opportunities if you are to enjoy longevity in business,” Williams said.
“You can't afford to remain ordinary if you are to stay relevant. Be innovative and give value in all that you do.”
Outspoken Consultants’ Nomalanga Ndlovu also shared on market expansion strategies highlighting that businesses must reinvent in sync with obtaining trends so that they don't become obsolete in the face of diverse changes on the market.
Brand strategist and business development consultant Takemore Mazuruse then came in with a presentation on corporate social responsibility as a tool for brand and business positioning before Six Nine Construction MD Cosmas Mudekwa wrapped it up with a detailed take on the impact of innovation and technology and adoption towards business viability.
Various speakers and guests also took time to acknowledge fast growing contracting company Six Nine Construction for putting together a glitch-free event which has become a must-attend calendar event in Mutare since last year.
“We are humbled by the growth of this initiative and it is our hope that all local businesses are not left behind in this noble undertaking,” Mudekwa said
“From the onset, our motivation has been to play our small role in promoting excellence and productivity in our city and province and indeed the country as a whole. We are happy that government through the Provincial Minister here present has endorsed this initiative.”