The Affirmative Action Group-AAG says the 2009 budget presented by the Acting Finance Minister, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, should set the tone for the government to start looking into ways of promoting importation of raw materials and the resuscitation of local industries.

Speaking at a media conference in Harare, AAG President, Mr Supa Mandiwanzira described the 2009 budget as practical.

Mr Mandiwanzira said while the move by the Minister of Finance to liberalize the foreign exchange market is good news to the nation, there is urgent need for the government top look into ways of protecting the productive sector by instituting strategies to deal with the influx of imported goods.

He said instead of the country continuing to import goods from neighbouring countries, the AAG proposes that the government comes up with a time frame to phase out the total importation of finished products.

Mr Mandiwanzira said instead the government should promote the importation of raw materials and machinery to resuscitate the local industry.

The call by the AAG comes at a time the local industry is operating below capacity due to a number of challenges, with the bulk of business now relying on imported goods.