By Dickson Bandera
Healthcare services, solar energy and skills development have emerged as leading areas of strategic market importance for Zimbabwean businesses over the next decade, according to the 2025 National Competitiveness Baseline Survey.
The survey, conducted by the National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) in collaboration with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), identifies medical services as the highest-ranked market, scoring 51.9 percent, followed by solar energy backup power at 37.6 percent and education technology and reskilling services at 36.5 percent.
The findings point to opportunities for businesses seeking to position themselves in sectors considered strategically important for future economic activity.
Artificial intelligence, data and digital financial services also feature among the markets identified by businesses, reflecting growing interest in technology-driven solutions and financial services.
Artificial intelligence scored 32 percent, while data and digital financial services recorded 30.8 percent and 30.7 percent, respectively.
Agro-processing and value addition scored 27.9 percent.
The ranking places healthcare services well ahead of the other identified markets, with its score exceeding that of solar energy backup power by 14.3 percentage points.
The prominence of solar energy backup power comes against a business environment in which electricity supply reliability remains a concern. The survey lists electricity reliability among the constraints affecting businesses, although the market-priority and constraint scores measure different aspects of competitiveness.
For entrepreneurs and investors, the results provide an indication of the sectors businesses consider important when looking towards the next 10 years. However, the rankings reflect reported strategic importance and should not be interpreted as confirmed investment commitments or guaranteed returns.
The inclusion of education technology and reskilling services also highlights the importance attached to skills development, as businesses consider how to respond to changing technological and workplace requirements.
Meanwhile, the scores for artificial intelligence, data and digital financial services point to potential opportunities for technology companies and service providers seeking to develop solutions for businesses and consumers.
Agro-processing and value addition also feature in the survey, bringing attention to opportunities associated with processing raw materials into higher-value products.
The findings come as the survey records widespread use of digital technologies among establishments, with electronic payments and online banking scoring 85.5 percent, while communication with buyers and suppliers recorded 85.2 percent.
The survey’s findings provide a baseline for further examination of the markets businesses consider strategically important, although additional evidence would be needed to establish the scale of investment required, the demand for particular services and the potential for job creation in each sector.
The National Competitiveness Baseline Survey assesses Zimbabwe’s business competitiveness across provinces, economic sectors and key performance pillars, including innovativeness, inclusiveness, sustainability and resilience.
The findings offer policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs a basis for examining potential areas of opportunity alongside the constraints that continue to affect the business environment.