By Christopher Makaza
President Emmerson Mnangagwa today officially launched the India- Africa Incubation Centre in Water Falls, Harare which is expected to address unemployment, as graduates from Polytechnic colleges and universities, retirees, retrenchees, youths and women will be given an opportunity to set up their own enterprises.
Addressing delegates at the launch, President Mnangagwa hailed the setting up of the Incubation Centre which he said would complement Government efforts to revive the economy and improve the livelihoods of Zimbabweans.
“The launch of this Incubation Centre is most opportune and comes at a time when my Government has made strides towards growing our economy and improving the livelihoods of our citizens. It is encouraging that some entrepreneurs who received support last year have since registered their companies and are active in different sectors.
“The centre has huge prospects to enhance development in Zimbabwe through technology transfer and commercialisation, knowledge simulation, job creation, and increased investment as well as community development,” he said.
President Mnangagwa highlighted that the Government adopted the business incubation concept to accelerate the development and growth of start-up business. Thus, the Transitional Stabilization Programme (TSP) identifies business incubation as one of the key strategies for the sustainable growth and development of SMEs.
“We further envisage the development of more vibrant business linkages, greater market access, cluster development and business management training, through this strategy,” he added.
He further challenged the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development to put in place robust mechanisms to monitor and nurture newly formed businesses to ensure their survival and growth into fully-fledged organisations.
President Mnangagwa proposed that more facilities of such nature should be replicated in all the country`s ten provinces as the country endeavours to create an economic order with vast trade and investment opportunities for all.
The Incubation Centre was set up in 2016 in a bid to train entrepreneurs in various business areas.
