Cabinet on Tuesday approved a new industrial strategy aimed at revitalising Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector, with exports projected to more than double to US$1 billion by 2030 from the current average of about US$470 million.
The ambitious blueprint, the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy 2 (ZNIDP2) 2026–2030, was presented to Cabinet by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion minister Mthuli Ncube, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on National Development Planning.
The policy forms part of government efforts to accelerate industrialisation, boost export earnings and strengthen the manufacturing sector’s contribution to economic growth.
The policy aims to promote sustainable and diversified industrial growth, enhance productivity and drive structural transformation and competitiveness by accelerating investment in Zimbabwe’s industrial sector.
Under the plan, the manufacturing sector’s growth rate is targeted to increase to over 5% by 2030, up from the current average of 2,2%.
ZNIDP2 also aims to increase the sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to US$12 billion by 2030, from about US$7 billion.
According to the policy, capacity utilisation in the sector is projected to rise to 60% by 2030, from an average of 51%.
The volume of the manufacturing index is expected to increase to an average of 180 by 2030, up from 149.4.
ZNIDP2 is anchored on six strategic pillars: deepening industrialisation and value chain optimisation; leveraging competitive advantages in mining and agriculture; spatial development initiative nodes and rural industrialisation; enhancing industrial competitiveness and productivity through digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence integration; inclusive industrialisation and micro, small and medium enterprises linkages; and strengthening local content development.
“The pillars entail, among others, prioritising intermediate goods production under the ‘manufacturing for manufacturing’ concept, leveraging the country’s natural endowments to promote beneficiation, and driving industrial modernisation through retooling, automation, concessional financing and duty-free capital equipment imports,” Cabinet said.
The policy will also embed Artificial Intelligence in manufacturing and value chains, strengthen innovation ecosystems, link industry with academia, promote investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and develop digital skills.
Authorities said the strategy will prioritise the expansion of special economic zones, promote stronger integration of micro, small and medium enterprises with larger firms, and facilitate the graduation of small enterprises into bigger industrial players.