Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe has called for more local businesses in the country to actively participate in growing the Zambia’s economy.
Mrs Mwanakatwe said it is imperative that businesses venture in economic sectors such as manufacturing, construction and tourism as well as agro- processing, transport and the service sector.
The Minister said this can only be possible through innovation and risk taking by local businessmen and women with the capacity to implement grow and succeed not only in Zambia but also in international markets.
She said this at the Grand finale of the Nyamuka Zambia Business Plan Competition and gala dinner in Lusaka last evening.
Ms. Mwanakatwe said Zambia needs ambitious entrepreneurs who can innovate and take risks in a controlled manner.
She noted that a thriving entrepreneurial culture has the capacity to make a meaningful contribution to Zambia’s economic and social development.
The Minister said it is important for business people to be innovative and competitive at all times.
Ms. Mwanakatwe explained that in order to achieve this, the country must develop outstanding and ambitious men and women who can be leaders in their fields, with a mindset to be successful and to compete at the highest.
She said her Ministry’s mandate aims at enhancing productivity and competitiveness in the private sector by building and strengthening the capacity of Micro, small and Medium Enterprises to deliver overall inclusive wealth and job creation, economic development and diversification.
Ms. Mwanakatwe said it is vital for Zambians to own successful businesses and complement foreign investment in the country.
She said government fully believes that Zambia’s economy will not reach its full potential without the active participation of Zambian entrepreneurs.
Ms. Mwanakatwe said the entrepreneurs need motivation and not inhibition in any way as they drive to building successful Zambian businesses.
She said government has also put in place a number of measures to facilitate enterprise growth especially for Small Medium Enterprises (SME).
Boring usual statements . I am now back home after a wild one at October fest. I now await the arrival of my brother Larry mweetwa who is travelling from London. BTW to all those saying that I need the award of best blogger 2016 thanks very much. Mushota asila.
This is woman is disgusting and should not be near a govt building but yah we are a “Christian nation” whatever that means!!
Big Thief, she abused CEEC and now talking about Business?? They no other Zambians can prosper apart from themselves. they do it just to gain something??
I am slightly perplexed with this constant recycling of empty statements. Does Hon. Minister actually know what is required to grow economy? Interest rates at 40%? Ad-hock taxation policy? Unfair competition caused by ZDA illegal projects approval? Disregard to mandatory provisions of ratified International treaties? Institutional incompetence and corruption?
Really laughable …look at her calling for to active participation of SMEs in growing the economy when she can not pay back a loan in the pot of CEEC….what a nasty piece of work she is, really nasty!!
She is not aware of the cost of borrowing zambians face, what a pity.
On top of that who wants to invest in a country where rules and laws are broken and abused by those in power to suit their needs .?.
Even the investor’s PF were dancing about will come after the kaponyas sonta at the most expensive roads built have not come and are weary of the leadership that has so much disregard for the law.
Lungu can just wake up and interprete the law in a manner against investor’s.
“Ms. Mwanakatwe said Zambia needs ambitious entrepreneurs who can innovate and take risks in a controlled manner.”
Maybe she means borrowing and not paying back is what she is mistaking for ambition…what a repulsive vermin she is I can not stand this silly thief!!
You have a series of governments that exist to cater to the colonial transnational corporations. What is the minister doing to actually stimulate the diversification of the economy? And not for the benefit of transnational corporations, but for their rivals, local Zambian businesses.
For politicians, that would start with legislation – protection for local manufacturers, so their markets cannot be destroyed by cheap imported goods or heavily foreign taxpayer subsidised foodstuffs.