Government has reiterated its commitment to work with the private sector and it’s cooperating partners on initiatives that aim to exploit the development potential of Luapula Province.
Provincial Minister, John Chinyanta also said the continued cooperation between
government and partners would result in the province meaningfully contribute to
Zambia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Mr. Chinyanta said Luapula had immense potential in farming, fish and agro processing.
He was speaking in mansa today when he officiated at the Luapula Province Trade and
Economic Sensitization Workshop dubbed “Value addition key to international trade
competitiveness”, organized by the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA).
He said the province had opportunities for investment in tourism, mining, fish and Agro-processing to improve the livelihood of people in the area.
And Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Alfred Kalumba said there was need to add
value to products and services from the province as currently a lot went to waste due to lack of packaging and processing.
He said the province exports about K8 billion worth of produce through the pedicle road only to the Copperbelt and that Luapula could generate a higher turnover from its resources with improved quality of the export.
At the same function Canadian High Commissioner to Zambia John Deyell said the Donor
Community appreciates Zambia’s commitment towards the formulation and implementation of various bilateral and trade agenda’s on both regional and global scales.
Mr. Deyell said Zambia had demonstrated it’s sense of leadership and ownership
towards the realization of the intended goals through partnerships such as NEPAD and
the Southern African Development Community (SADC), among others.
He called on the local business community to embrace global market changes through
the utilization of modern information and technology tools such as e-commerce in order to access the world market and profit from their products.
He said the Zambian Government had shown commitment by prescribing platforms for local business to penetrate the global market and that the donor community would
continue to be partners in development.
And Acting Director General of Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Glyne Michelo said
the workshop was aimed at sensitization of Zambia’s economic environment and export
Business opportunities related to the products and services generated in Luapula Province.
Mr. Michelo said the outcome of the deliberations with the various local business stakeholders would create networks and strategic alliances that would play a pivotal
role towards the development of trade in Zambia.
ZANIS
