Staff Writer 
THE inaugural Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo 2026 will deliver practical, evidence-based solutions to structural bottlenecks that have historically hindered the country’s manufacturing sector, experts say.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce partnered with Africa Economic Development Strategies (AEDS) to host the conference, which aims to advance the country’s industrial transformation agenda.
The high-level event is scheduled to take place from July 23 to 24, 2026, at the Harare International Conference Centre after being rescheduled from its originally planned venue in Bulawayo.
The event comes at a time when the country is witnessing industrial transformation, as evidenced by the establishment of new enterprises and retooling across various sectors of the economy, including iron and steel, food and beverages and mining.
Director for Industrialisation, Trade, and Investments at AEDS Richard Kamidza said industrialisation has shifted from an aspiration to an immediate economic necessity for Zimbabwe.
“The Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo is envisaged to establish a platform designed to support technology transfer, investment-ready manufacturing projects, enable industrial growth and industrial transformation that delivers exports, jobs and long-term economic prosperity,” he said.
To ensure the discussions yield actionable outcomes, organisers have developed a specialised monitoring and evaluation tool.
The mechanism will track the implementation of the conference resolutions across all economic sectors, including private business organisations, development partners, academia, and parliament, allowing for a progress audit at the follow-up summit in 2027.
The 2026 conference will target critical structural barriers that limit factory operations, specifically focusing on energy supply stabilisation to facilitate 24-hour manufacturing shifts, currency stability to secure foreign exchange for essential raw material imports, and the alignment of local skills with modern industrial demands.
Discussions will focus on practical policy implementation, localised value chain development, mineral beneficiation, and the establishment of a robust iron and steel industrial ecosystem.
Financial mobilisation and investment strategies required to fund these large-scale industrial projects will also take centre stage.
Kamidza highlighted the need to build robust domestic value chains, citing the lithium and steel sectors as primary drivers of manufacturing opportunities.
He added that developing these value chains is projected to attract foreign direct investment, capture advanced technology, increase fiscal revenue, and prevent the exportation of local jobs through raw commodity trade.
Discussions will be supported by an ongoing study on the state of the Zimbabwean industry and its prospects for 2027.
