Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Hon. Felix Mutati received a standing ovation after delivering a strong emotional speech that was punctuated with a strong message that” Africa is a new frontier for investment” amid long and loud applauses
He told his audience and in particular American investors that they will lose huge opportunities if they avoid ” investing in changing Africa.”
“Africa is changing. At least 38 African countries in the recent past have moved towards political stability and good governance. They have also implemented reforms to improve the way they conduct business,” he said.
It was for this reason that he challenged American companies to take advantage of the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) as Africa was open and ready for job creation and accountability.
He commended the hard work and dynamism of African women who are also attending the Forum in their determination to make a difference and prosper in a world dominated by men citing as an example Ghana’s Chief Excecutive Officer of Homefoods Processing and Cannery Limited, Felicia Twumwasi and Zambia’s Sylvia Banda CEO of Sylva Food Solutions Inc.
“ I salute African women who started their businesses in their kitchens and are now able to run multi million dollar companies or have expanded from catering to processing and packaging traditional Zambian foodstuffs.i
Hon. Mutati also spoke at a panel discussion moderated by the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Johnnie Carson. Other speakers were Mr. Ezra Sabiti Suruma a former Minister of Uganda, Ambassador Islam Siddiqui Chief Agriculrural Negotiator from the office of the US Trade Representative, and Mr. Philippe Villers, the Chief Executive Officer of GrainPro in Massachussetts.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum opened last Monday 2nd August, 2010 in Washington. It moved to Kansas City on Thursday 5th August, 2010 in order to link African business people with American counterparts.
Passed into law 10 years ago, the trade policy seeks to boost Africa’s economic growth by allowing 6,400 products duty-free access to the American market.
US exports to Africa under the Act increased to $18.5 billion in 2008 from $10.2 billion in 2005, while exports from Africa soared to $86 billion from $50.3 billion, according to the latest numbers from the US Department of Commerce.
Later, the Minister and his Zambian delegation met with some business leaders from US companies to discuss specific areas for investment.
The Minister also toured the Zambian stand accompanied by Her Excellency, Mrs. Sheila Siwela, Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States of America.
He also held bilateral talks with his Angolan counterpart, Mrs. Maria Idalina Volente, the Angolan Minister of Trade. The discussions were mainly focused on increased trade between the two countries.
Thanks Honourable Mutati, you have done the Zambian (MMD) government proud. Please keep up your government’s policy of attracting investments into the Zambian economy. Focus on what needs to be done for your country and the fruits will tell a loud story. Ignore the loud detractors who do not even care about anybody except their own selfish interests to enter State House and take control of all the business deals for their own gain.
Salutations Honorable Mutati for such a studious service to the country!
Ignore unpatriotic armchair critics. N doubt, to realize our economic emancipation, Zambia with her own economic safe guards has to open up and keep gaining momentum in the Global market place. We need to work with others to tap into and harness opportunities with an edge that comes with economic diplomacy. As much as we are preoccupied with a spirit of realizing and fostering a local enterprising citizenry, the nation has to appreciate benefits in the Global market place. The treaties, conventions and MOUs this administration signs on our behalf have the propensity to give Zambia a strategic edge and prosperity.
Bravo!
I repeat, in contemporary world order, nation states and power political actors are faced with a new frontier for economic diplomacy. Zambia is no exception because people will not thrive on political rhetoric and insults. Economic diplomacy and economic security have risen to the top of the Banda administration policy agenda, driven by a mix of political and economic factors. RB strongly understands that economic diplomacy can be used to generate and increase economic security. This is of eminent importance given the trend in globalization with new economic powers showing their muscles, stronger each day. Pieces on the chessboard have to be moving to foster our economic edge.
The RB economic Diplomacy documented in a good MMD foreign policy doctrine embraced by his administration is a game changer. The country is getting smarter in the use of economic assets and relationships to increase and strengthen the mutual benefits of cooperation and politically stable relationships. By and with this we are fostering national prosperity and much critical economic security. Times as this deserve leadership that is internationalist than clueless utopia driven populists. This is why popularly Zambian sees no alternative in the arena other than RB for 5 more years of hope, stability, unity and progress.
Mutati has always focused on the development of Zambia and not the politics. In short, he is a hard worker that needs the support of all. Other ministers should emulate him, especially the minister of works, the minister of health and the minister of ernegy.
To the bunch of blind MMD supporters I say; no one questions the fact that a number of African countries have the resources that translate into investment opportunities for others. No one is unaware of the fact that our government goes out of it’s way to facilitate trade relations with foreign investors. The problems that we bring to government’s attention are how the above do not translate into meaningful opportunity for the growth and development of Zambia, how selfishly they make trade agreements to benefit individuals in power and how pompously they ignore any criticism of the lack of transparency surrounding all their dealings. Mutati is an overpaid opportunist whose primary interests are enriching himself and his family. That some if you call this success shows why the rest of the…
That some of you call this success shows why the rest of the world calls us the third world. I’d like to see Mutati send his children to a well funded UNZA, speak about a growing health system, talk about Zambians are better protected from labor abuse and underpayment before any right- minded person can even so much as utter a word of praise for this man and his government. Otherwise, we may as well just cut our losses and put a bunch of Robots in parliament, for at least we won’t have to overpay them for abusing our hard earned monies and abundant resources.
Abena CB- Mwalasa!!
Alemoneka wanjuka mudala uyu. Where is Magande? mwebantu twapapata.
Mutati may have made a good speech without doubt, but it the at the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry that the Hon. Mutati must be making those speeches, so that he can improve productivity! Moving from country to country like his boss making such exhilarating speeches augurs well, but at the end of the day what is he achieving! In a recent BBC documentary, I saw him arriving in Beijing, China and being ‘taken care’ of by the Chinese host in more ways that what not appropriate- All the bills paid for by the Chinese!
For the past 3 years, RB and his ministers have been undertaking frequent private and official uncoordinated travels abroad, some of which could have been handled by their low ranking civil servants or head of missions in such respective countries.
Well Done Hon. Felix Mutati. You have done Zambia and Africa proud and for this we commend you. I also agree with you, Africa is changing fast and if you miss out on the economic prosperity train Africa is heading, you’ll be left with regret.
Congratulations Hon. Felix Mutati.
At times I wonder how journalists give headlines. From this article nothing has been written to buttress the title. On the other hand we don’t eat speeches. It reminds of one short president whose eloquency this country bought into and was heavily raped and also one “cabbage” who led this country with no charm but meant so what well for his people. What we need is to see such speeches translated into practical benefits for the people of zambia. We can only wait and see what comes out of it. Otherwise 6elix is one of the sober Ministers whom you will never hear politicking like others.
Ba Walasa, ala twatasha sana mukwayi!
Abena CB and Walasa it makes me happy to know we still have wise Zambians like you among us. Africans need to learn to develop themselves with the little resources they posses. We began civilization let’s lose materialism and all shall be well. Thankyou for making my heart happy for only Jesus brings joy. Some blind zambians praising blindly.
#8, Mutati is our Commerce Minister and while the areas you point need serious attention, they do not fall under the commerce portfolio. AGOA is a life line thrown to Africa but the continents response has been below par. One of the many constraints is lack of investment capital and I think a call to the Americans to invest in Africa then export the goods to America makes business sense. Criticism of Mutati just because he is MMD is misplaced. I am not an MMD supporter but in this particular case I stand with Mutati.
felix ,quit mmd…
take care mutati. if RB sees the potential in you, you are fired.
brilliant
Squealer I am afraid I disagree with you entirely. Mutati’s being Commerce minister does not obsolve him of the need to be consistently moral, ethical, rational and honest. It is hypocritical to engineer a deal like the one him and Rupiah’s sons did and then turn around and implore the West to invest in our corrupt nation. From a government standpoint investing in the people through health and education should make sound sense and any unselfish commerce minister should know that. Americans sell us their technology today because for years they have invested in education. To remind Mutati that his speech is highly inconsistent with what he has portrayed through his acts is not anti-mmd, it is simply pro-Zambian people sense. To simplify things for you who may not be following, no man…
in a position such as Mutati’s should be judged by mere words, for those are merely words. For a country of 12 million, 80% impoverished while people like Mutati and his family accumulate enough of tax payers monies to support 100,000 Zambian families a year speaks to the fact that the problem is not a lack of investment per se, rather s lack of morals on his part. Him and his partners.