Major development conference on cards

Harare (New Ziana) – The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has asked stakeholders for contributions on domestic and international resource mobilization ahead of the Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference (ZEDCON) set for October.

In a press request, the Ministry called for submissions on informal sector and sustainable development, the role of the private sector in financing development and inflation rate and exchange rate dynamics as part of abstracts for ZEDCON which would be held in Victoria Falls from October 25 to 27.

Under the theme ‘Public and Private Resource Mobilisation for Sustainable Development’, the Ministry said the conference would be an opportunity to deeply reflect on financial systems and interventions relevant for reinstating the country’s economy on a sustainable growth trajectory.

“We will explore ways of ensuring effective utilisation of domestic and external resources as well as to interrogate emerging and innovative sources of finance, including international financial markets and digital financing,” said the statement.

“Further, we will discuss exchange rate, inflation and interest rate development and the impact on development finance. It is expected that at the end of the conference, policy recommendations will be made on strengthening Zimbabwe’s financing system to build-forward better within the framework of the NDS1, the SDGs and the agenda 2063.”

Expected are submissions of original research, both theoretical and empirical contributions related to domestic and international resource mobilisation, informal sector and sustainable development, role of the private sector in financing development as well as inflation rate and exchange rate dynamics.

Under resource mobilisation and financing of NDS1, the Ministry expects submissions on measures to enhance revenue mobilization, leveraging natural resources for development, information technology for development, green bonds, climate financing and carbon credits, effectiveness of development assistance, evaluation of value for money policy, debt sustainability and infrastructure financing.

On leveraging the informal sector for development, submissions are expected to focus on the informal sector dynamics, sustainable models of formalization, boosting production in the informal sector, historical lessons from other developing countries and digital finance.

Submissions on enhancing the role of the private sector are to focus on the contribution of traditional financing, role of venture finance and leveraging on the public-private partnerships, on pension funds, and lessons from successful sovereign wealth funds and securities exchange markets and insurance.

Also to come under the spotlight will be exchange rate targeting, inflation, interest rate on borrowings and the role of fiscal policy in determining exchange rate adjustments and inflation.

Initial submissions are expected to reach the Ministry by August 14, with the fully developed submissions by September 15.

Expected to make submissions are researchers, academia, development partners, corporate, economic think tanks and representative organizations with junior or early career researchers or scholars and female scholars and researchers encouraged to apply.

At the conference, a distinguished panel will assess the presented papers and award three prizes for the best papers and all presenters would be awarded honorariums as an appreciation.

New Ziana