Germany Ambassador Frank Meyke has said the role of economic growth and poverty reduction in Zambia is of decisive importance.
Mr Meyke noted that without economic growth, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) could not be achieved.
He announced that studies have shown that Africa would require annual growth of at least eight (8) percent if it was to achieve MDG 1 halving the number of people living in absolute poverty by 2015.
Mr Meyke was speaking at the launch of the Train for Trade Training Export Promotion and Economic Partnership Agreements Workshop in Lusaka today.
The Ambassador noted that the aim of Economic Partnership Agreements was to encourage partner countries to undertake important reforms to improve the environment for trade and foster good governance.
He observed that only trade and private sector working in close collaboration with the public sector could add real value to Zambia’s vast natural resources being the main source of job creation and economic growth.
And Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Chief Executive Officer Andrew Chipwende said the training was targeting mainly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and supported SME’s as they played a catalytical role in the country’s social economic development process.
Mr Chipwende noted that SME’s contributed significantly to the growth of non traditional export sector, job creation as well as income generation and poverty reduction.
He said it was for this reason that South to South trade through business linkages and strengthening of private sector in the region should be promoted.
Mr Chipwende was hopeful that enrolled participants would be able to acquire knowledge and tap in opportunities presented by the international market and encouraged them to penetrate other markets such as the European Union (EU), United States of America (USA) and Canada among others.
The workshop which runs for five days has drawn participants from local companies.
[ ZANIS ]
