The event, broadcast live in Zimbabwe, was held in the House of Assembly.

"This is a major step towards the country’s commitment towards 'Going Beyond Words'',”a spokesman for the organisation said.

"Certainly companies such as Turnall Limited, Olivine Idustries Limited, Quetech Holdings (Private) Limited, and members of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), for example, will feel that the pressure of operating in an unsustainable economic environment has in part been lifted by the presentation by the Minister.

"It will be great to see products such as Olivine cooking oil back on the shelf competing head-to-head with Safflo and Delight".

He said as a competitiveness driver in the local economy, Buy Zimbabwe felt that the restoration of import duty on some food stuffs and the reduction of duty on raw materials would "cushion businesses from the unfair competition which was threatening to cripple local industry".

"As Buy Zimbabwe we have previously highlighted that the country requires a sensible policy environment for business to thrive and for the country to be able to protect jobs and create more for the 96 percent who are unemployed," he said.

"The presentation by Minister Biti is a sign of government’s commitment to recapitalising and resuscitating our industrial base".

He said it was, however, very critical for business to complement this gesture by focusing on competitiveness.

"Both pricing and product offering are a critical factor here and for the Finance Ministry to be able to justify its reforms it is paramount that businesses also respond to the calls of the consumer for fair pricing and product availability," the spokesman said.

"Despite being more demanding, innovative and imaginative, the Zimbabwean consumer still has an affinity for local products and services. They just require that businesses prove that they indeed can 'Go Beyond Words' and offer the products they promised".

He said since still more needed to be done towards industrial retooling, capacity utilisation and the procurement policy especially in public institutions it was necessary for industry to continue to make development centred contributions especially in view of the upcoming 2012 National Budget.

"Together as business, government and consumers we will build the economic base of the country one business at a time," the spokesman said.

"With platforms such as the Buy Zimbabwe Day to be held on August 3, at the Africa Unity Square in Harare we can all come together and discuss the way forward. Now is an important opportunity for us to not only celebrate the great products that we have as a country and acknowledge them for their good work but it is also time for us to create new brands that are able to compete at a local and international level"

He said this was a chance for government officials, business executives and the consumers of the country’s proud brands to be part of a ground-breaking ceremony that proudly asserts confidence in the work that "we do as Zimbabweans".

"Similar events shall be held across the country to ensure that all businesses that share the Buy Zimbabwe Vision are part of the positive transformation of Zimbabwe’s economy," the spokesman said.

By The Zimbabwean