COMPANIES must come up with new innovations in order to create demand for products other than being copycats of regional and international industries, a government official has said.
BY VICTORIA MTOMBA
Speaking at a reception on Tuesday in Harare to honour Harare Institute of Technology staff development fellows who completed studies in India, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa said resuscitation of industries, was, therefore, one of the means to an end of the economic doldrums the country was facing.
“There is, therefore, need for a paradigm shift from being copycats of regional and international industries, with whom we cannot compete, to that of unique saleable products, so as to create demand. Coming up with such innovations demands adoption of a positive attitude and an increased level of preparedness by government and institutions of higher learning towards investing in research based science and technology,” he said.
Gandawa said the revival of industries demanded not only heavy financial capitalisation, but devising of robust innovation on what and how to produce products that are competitive on the global market.
He said the disappearance of current jobs should not be a cause of panic, but what is required is to respond accordingly and prepare ourselves for these developments.
The Higher Education deputy minister said training programmes must be futuristic, focusing on teaching and training future skills rather than to remain focussed on the rear view mirror of the world of work.
Capacity utilisation for industries has been on a decline. Since 2012, companies have been struggling to capitalise due to the unavailability of funding in the market.
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Most companies have closed down operations due to challenges that the economy is facing, which include liquidity crisis, deflation and depressed economy activity, that has been worsened by low aggregate demand.
Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Rungsung Masakui, said HIT signeda memorandum of understanding with six universities in India and 62 candidates had successfully completed their courses in the universities.
He said development and progress of Zimbabwe depended on building an innovative Zimbabwe.
