The World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA) and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) have pledged to help Zambian companies to explore markets in the United States of America.
WTCLA International Trade Manager Michael Smith says the LAEDC is determined to provide business assistance through market research to Zambian businesses wishing to locate or expand operations in Los Angeles County.
“The LAEDC stands ready to help Zambian companies build capacity to allow them to tap into the U.S market in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and technology skills transfer,” he said.
The Corporation is the largest County economy in the U.S. with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over 640 billion United States Dollars.
To this end, the USA Firm based in the US of California State says it is planning to visit Zambia next year to explore areas of investment in the country.
He further urged the Embassy of Zambia in Washington D.C to avail WTCLA with detailed specifics of projects seeking investment in various sectors in order to position Zambia as a choice of investment destination.
WTCLA is an affiliate of the LAEDC and is Los Angeles County’s leading promoter and facilitator of global connections and inbound foreign direct investment.
Mr. Smith said this during a trade discussion meeting with Zambia’s Honorary Consul and Chief of Post in California Robert Sichinga Jnr, Embassy of Zambia in Washington D.C First Secretary Trade Charity Zulu and her Tourism counterpart Marsha Chipasha Holdway in Los Angeles.
And Mr. Sichinga also called on the LAEDC to identify companies in Los Angeles that will help Zambian companies add value to most of its products to increase on exports.
He observed that Los Angeles County is leading in sectors similar to those that Zambia has targeted as part of its growth of non-traditional exports and its Job Creation and Industrialization Strategy.
He further called for the expertise of the LAEDC to help package Zambia in a way that appeals to the Los Angeles based investor.
And Ms. Zulu said Zambia has launched the seventh national development plan that has outlined key areas of investment in the country.
“Zambia’s manufacturing sector has considerable investment potential, as the country is relatively well endowed with raw materials and as such value addition, as well as technology transfer, is key,” she added.
She further added that Zambia among other interventions is also exploring ways of the use of alternative and renewable energy to meet the country’s energy deficit.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Holdway also urged the (WTCLA) to help identify companies in the film and digital industry to partner with film makers in Zambia to raise the country’s tourism profile.
Well done USA!
Zambia we can hardly feed ourselves and these muppets are talking about exporting to USA, zambia you are playing out of your league these are the big boys,