Zimbabwe industrialisation Indaba taken away from Bulawayo

The inaugural Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo (ZICE) 2026 has been relocated to Harare after organisers rescheduled the event from its original venue at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds in Bulawayo without any reasons.

The conference and expo will now be held at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), with the event being organised by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in partnership with Africa Economic Development Strategies (AEDS).

Organisers say the summit is intended to become a key platform for driving Zimbabwe's industrialisation agenda and supporting efforts to transform the country into a competitive manufacturing and investment destination.

AEDS director for industrialisation, trade and investment, Dr Richard Kamidza, described ZICE 2026 as a significant milestone in Zimbabwe's economic development journey.

"ZICE 2026 is more than a conference - it is a national industrial transformation platform," he said.

"Its uniqueness lies in its deliberate transition from dialogue to implementation."

Dr Kamidza said the event has been designed to move beyond the traditional conference format by focusing on practical outcomes and measurable results aimed at accelerating industrial growth.

The conference will bring together government ministries, public agencies, industry executives, manufacturers, investors and policymakers to discuss strategies for boosting production, value addition and competitiveness across key sectors of the economy.

Organisers said the platform will also provide opportunities for engagement between local and international investors seeking to explore industrial and manufacturing opportunities in Zimbabwe.

In addition to government and business leaders, the summit is expected to attract development partners, financial institutions, academics, researchers, small and medium enterprises, youth and women entrepreneurs, as well as other non-state actors.

The broad participation is intended to ensure that industrialisation efforts are inclusive and reflective of the interests of various stakeholders within the economy.

ZICE 2026 is expected to focus on policy implementation, investment promotion, industrial innovation and the development of sustainable value chains as Zimbabwe seeks to strengthen domestic production and expand its export capacity.

Organisers say the conference will serve as a national platform for shaping the country's industrial future and advancing economic transformation through collaboration between the public and private sectors.