Govt committed to support youths to participate in ACFTA- VP Mohadi

Harare (New Ziana) – The government considers youths the anchor of the economy and future, and strongly supports their business endeavours, particularly in pursuit of opportunities opened by the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), Vice President Kembo Mohadi said on Friday.

The AfCFTA is a flagship project of the African Union (AU) which seeks to increase intra-African trade and investment in pursuit of Agenda 2063 which envisions an inter-connected, economically prosperous and thriving continent.

It aims to exploit the continent’s huge market of 1.2 billion people, with a Gross Domestic Product of $2.5 trillion.
In a speech read on his behalf at the inaugural Southern Africa youth business forum, VP Mohadi said the government supported youths through policies, and technical and financial assistance, and were top on its priority.

“Today, the Government of Zimbabwe has a number of policies and frameworks that enable young business owners to tap into the opportunities being brought about by the ACFTA,” he said.

“The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which administers the ACFTA, has crafted a national framework of agreements with relevant ministries, departments and agencies. Additionally, youth focal desks in the whole of government have been established with the Empower Bank to provide financial and technical support to young entrepreneurs, inclusive of trade and exports,” he said.

VP Mohadi said the national trade promotion agency, Zimtrade, has also come up with a number of initiatives to build the capacity of young entrepreneurs in trade and export.

One such initiative is the Eagles’ Nest programme that has scaled up a number of young exporters.

“I am pleased to note that our youths are constantly proving themselves capable partners in national development. At this juncture, I encourage all youths to ride on these presidential initiatives with fortitude as we leap forward the economy,” he said.

VP Mohadi used the opportunity to discourage youths from drug and substance abuse.
“Allow me, at this juncture, to then hasten to appeal to you, the youths, to desist from drug and substance abuse so that you fully explore entrepreneurial potential towards reshaping markets and economies across the region in sobriety,” he said.

New Ziana