THE non-traditional exports (NTEs) sector in Zambia has grown by more than 100 per cent over the last three years, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati has said.
Mr Mutati said the steady growth of NTEs recorded was significant for jobs and prosperity in the economy.
Speaking in Lusaka on Monday during the World Bank video conference discussion under the topic ‘Export Competitiveness,’ Mr Mutati said Zambia had made a lot of progress on the diversification programme by continuing to move away from depending mainly on copper.
The Government was implementing economic policies that were aimed at promoting export competitiveness.
The minister said the Government was focusing on adding value to locally manufactured products in various sectors such as livestock and tourism.
“We are also working on the Multi-Facility Economic Zones initiatives to promote exports. The zones are key to generating exports and creating jobs in Zambia,” he said.
The Government was committed to compressing a number of business licenses that currently were 517 from 87 Acts.
He said the amendments would soon be taken to Parliament where about 170 licenses were expected to be eliminated.
Mr Mutati said Zambia was working with other countries in the region to improve on transport infrastructure in an effort to address competitiveness as a region.
Last year, the regional grouping under the North South Corridor raised about K1.2 billion for improving transport infrastructure.
He urged the private sector to fully exploit the regional markets saying it was easier for Zambia to trade with neighboring countries at a cheaper cost.
During the same satellite video conference discussion programme, several economic experts and discussants from the World Bank, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Ghana, Nigeria and other countries empasised the need to improve competitiveness at both country and company or firm levels.
[Times of Zambia]
The are the stories that PF cadres don’t what to read nd comment on!! Funny though=))
Economist are in charge and the future is glowingly bright.Steadfastly building on the dream of a better Zambia for all hardworking. The country is in the hands or progressive patriots than cheap populists full of unsymetrical judgement.There is only one way out of poverty, hardwork, hardwork, hardwork and realistic smart approach to national opportunities.RB and his team got it right.
Bravo Zambia
Good news; but where is the beef? Where are the statistics? And what are these NTEs?
An increase in NTEs is a positive sign for this economy. Probably what we should do for now is to deliberately invest in the NTEs with high returns. This will ensure a cushon from the shocks of copper prices hitting the all time lows. Also the minister should contibute much on EPAs(Economic Partnership Agreements). I fill if better negotiated countries like Zambia can have an upper hand offloading NTEs on the European markets. This is good news indeed….