Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe government on Wednesday launched the theme for the 2026 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) International Expo and called on stakeholders to participate in value chains and contribute meaningfully to national development.
The 16th edition of the expo will be held under the theme, “The Industrial Imperative: Scaling with Discipline, Transforming for Enduring Impact,” from 21 to 24 October this year in Harare.
The expo will bring together micro, small and medium enterprises from Zimbabwe and beyond to showcase their products, exchange knowledge, establish business linkages, and explore opportunities for growth and investment.
Addressing stakeholders at the launch, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Monica Mutsvangwa, said the expo would be complemented by a two-day Business Conference, providing an important platform for dialogue on the opportunities and challenges confronting Micro, Small and Medium Eenterprises (MSMESs), as well as the need to transition from survival-oriented enterprises towards sustainable, productive and competitive businesses.
“This year’s theme is timely and resonates strongly with the Government’s commitment to accelerating economic transformation through industrialisation, value addition, formalisation and inclusive economic development, as we move towards the attainment of Vision 2030. The theme also speaks directly to the mandate of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, which is to empower women, strengthen communities and promote the growth and competitiveness of MSMEs and cooperatives as key drivers of economic development,” she said.
She challenged potential exhibitors to facilitate the development of productive, formalised, competitive and sustainable enterprises capable of creating employment, increasing incomes, participating in value chains and contributing meaningfully to national development.
“The first element of the theme is the industrial imperative; Zimbabwe can no longer afford to remain predominantly a producer and exporter of raw materials. Our economic transformation requires us to increase value addition, beneficiation, manufacturing and local content,” she said.
“Our MSMEs have a critical role to play in this process. We must encourage our entrepreneurs to move beyond primary production and into processing, packaging, branding and manufacturing. Agricultural produce must increasingly be transformed into finished products. Locally available minerals must generate greater value within Zimbabwe. Our creative industries, furniture manufacturers, clothing producers, food processors and other enterprises must be integrated into productive value chains,” she added.
Mutsvangwa said the second element of the theme highlights that growth should be supported by sound systems, proper financial management, quality standards, innovation and effective leadership, while the third element encourages MSMEs to create enterprises and value chains that remain productive and sustainable beyond individual projects, programmes or events.
She added that the expo should not be viewed merely as an exhibition, but as a platform for market access, investment, partnerships, technology transfer, knowledge exchange and business development.
“We must also embrace technology, digital skills and innovation which are essential for enterprises that seek to improve productivity, access markets and compete regionally and internationally,” she said.
The government continues to work with the private sector, financial institutions, development partners, local authorities, academia and communities to create an enabling environment for enterprise development.
MSMEs are the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy, with approximately 3.4 million entities contributing more than 60 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing roughly 4.8 million people full-time.
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