Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, yesterday officially commissioned state-of-the-art printing and packaging machinery at Printflow (Private) Limited’s headquarters in Harare.
The US$3.35 million investment, which includes a high-capacity Heidelberg CX104 press and other modern equipment, is part of ongoing efforts to modernise the company following its transformation from Government Printers to Printflow Limited, in line with the Commercialisation Act of 2006.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Prof Ncube said the investment was critical in strengthening local industrial capacity and ensuring reliable printing and packaging services for both Government and the private sector.
“The printing and packaging industry, particularly Printflow, provides essential packaging and printing services which are essential for the smooth flow of Government operations,” he said.
He added that the modernisation of Printflow was in line with Government’s broader economic reform agenda, which prioritises efficiency, commercial viability and value for money in State-owned and formerly State-run enterprises.
“This recapitalisation demonstrates Government’s commitment to transforming public entities into efficient, competitive and commercially viable institutions that can stand on their own while supporting national development,” Prof Ncube said.
Minister Ncube said the acquisition of the Heidelberg CX104 and related machinery would significantly boost Printflow’s production capacity, improve turnaround times and enhance the quality of output, enabling the company to meet growing demand.
“These modern machines will boost production capacity for essential printing and packaging services for both Government and the private sector. They place Printflow in a strong position to deliver high-quality products that meet international standards,” he added.
The Finance Minister also urged both public institutions and private companies to prioritise the use of local firms such as Printflow for their printing and packaging needs.
“I encourage both public and private sector entities to consider Printflow for all printing and packaging solutions. Supporting local industry is key to economic growth, job creation and foreign currency savings,” Prof Ncube added.
He said improved efficiency at Printflow would ensure that the company becomes a preferred service provider locally and regionally.
“By enhancing the entity’s efficiency, we are ensuring that Printflow becomes the first choice for printing and packaging solutions in Zimbabwe and beyond,” Prof Ncube said.
The commissioning of the equipment is expected to strengthen Printflow’s capacity to serve key sectors of the economy, while reinforcing Government’s policy of leveraging commercialised entities to drive industrial growth and improved service delivery.
