Government has set aside about K 20 billion in the 2010 national budget for the completion of infrastructure development at the Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone ( MFEZ ).
Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, said the growth of the manufacturing sector is an essential part of the government’s agenda for national development.
Speaking when he presented the 2010 national budget in Lusaka yesterday, Dr.Musokotwane, noted that expanding the manufacturing activities will, over the medium term, improve the country’s growth prospects and competitiveness.[quote]
He explained this will also help in reducing the country’s dependency on imports through a wider base of locally produced goods and services.
Dr. Musokotwane however, disclosed that the performance of the manufacturing sector has been negatively affected by lower demand and rising cost of import inputs there by the growth of the sector is estimated to decline to 1.0 percent in 2009.
He said despite these set back, government will continue to place emphasis on the manufacturing sector through the construction of infrastructures and investment facilitation through the Zambia Development Agency.
He stated that there has been substantial progress in the development of the US$ 900 million Chambishi Multi-Facility Economic Zone adding that a master plan for the Lusaka East MFEZ will be completed by the end of 2009 and construction is expected to start in 2010.
The minister further disclosed that eleven manufactures have so far begun operations, and another five are expected to do so in 2010 saying this will also help in accelerating the pace of operations and therefore create job opportunities for the local people in the country.
ZANIS
Wat economic zone is this now?? government should know that the job of economic zone development is for investors,jst invite them.no need to spend all that money,channel it to hospitals,coz people are dyin-EHHH even the 44yo zambian only pathologist died after a stomache,one wonders,
Sounds good. Anything that will create employment is a good idea. Waiting to see construction started in 2010
where iz located,nd how far have the contrustion reached