Commerce, Trade and Industry has described the just ended 6th Zambia International Business Advisory Council [ZIBAC] conference as a success.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent secretary James Mulungushi said the conference was an eye opener on what Zambia should do to over come the turbulent waves of the global economic Crisis.
Dr. Mulungushi said government working hand in hand with the private sector and its cooperating partners will implement polices that are tailored at reducing the cost of doing business in the country.
This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He explained that the reduction in the cost of doing business in the country will enable both local and international investors to invest in various sectors of the economy.
Dr. Mulungushi said Massive investment would in turn create jobs for the local adding that in long ran reduces on the high poverty levels in the country.
Dr. Mulungushi further said there was urgent need to diversify the economy with main focus on Agriculture, Tourism, infrastructure enhancement and information Communication technology.
He said government will focus on the development of the rail and road infrastructure of the North-South Corridor adding that this will enhance efficiency, productivity and ultimately lead to competitiveness among those in the commercial, Trade and Industry sector.
President Banda officiated and attended the conference.
The conference was attended by representatives of Zambia cooperating partners, members of the private sector and government officials.
which was held in Livingstone from the 19th to 21 with the theme ”solutions on how Zambia can grow and remain a competitive investment destination, in the face of the Global Economic Crisis”.
ZANIS
A success for who? Success is measured by visible recovery of the economy and tangible benefits fotr the masses. Only then can we say the conference was a success, right now it is only the programme and agenda of the conference that has successfully been brought to an end.
#1 Nine Chale, good question. What is the outcome of that conference? PS Mulungushi, it is too soon to say it was a success since all you were doing was to discuss things whose impact you have not assessed yet. Just an addition. As commerce ministry, you are a very important ministry in ensuring that you collect a lot of revenue (even if it will be stolen afterwards). It would help you to put in measures that promote use of cards in transactions. You could do that by starting with the wholesale and retail sub-sectors. Doing so would encourage people (sanasana ba mwenye) to open bank accounts through which ZRA would benefit from as their will be reduced tax evasion which is promoted by cash transactions. That is just one area but there are many others if you could take time to research.
Number one walasa! I hope now this is the last consultation for RB! Its been too much of consultations, we need results now of the consultations which should benefit the pipo of zambia. Indaba===>Hpipo lodge with so many groups of pipo & organisations that could even been consulted right from state house======>ZIBAC! Above all ba RB u ve advisors at state house eh! Pliz stop now spending tax payers money carelessly!
#1 Nine Chale, you are spot on. PS Mulungushi concuded too soon on the success of the ZBAC conference since whatever they discussed has not yet been assessed on what the impact has been. This is a very important ministry which and if they do a lot of research it could create a lot of revenue for the nation. An example is just how they haven’t encouraged systems that reduce cash transactions -use of debit or credit cards when purchasing goods. Bamwenye kukamwala are having a field day in under-declaring tax since most of their wholesale business is through cash. Besides that, they do not even have bank accounts but prefer to change the cash into dollars which they externalise. This is just one example.
No. 1 Spot on. How can they evaluate intentions which have not even been tested? Was it a success because of Dora’s presence?
I think the conference was a success. This conference brought business owners and investors as well as experts to directly tell the govt the problems they face and suggest as to how govt can fix these problems.
Some of the problems are the costs of doing business and the time frame for setting up a business all of which govt has now taken note of and I am sure is formulating plans to deal with some of the problems.
In my opinion, it was a success.
What was Dora doing there?