Speaking when she received a delegation of German investors at the Zambia Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ms. Sikaneta said the investment climate in Zambia was one of the most attractive on the continent.
Ambassador Sikaneta who is also Permanent Representative to the African Union said Zambia enjoyed peace and stability and had not witnessed any conflicts or wars that could interfere with investments injected in the country.
She said the tax policy in Zambia is good and attracts a tax holiday initially for big companies that invest in Zambia for a longer period.“There are also incentives for investing in rural areas”, Ms Sianeta said while referring the investors to the Zambia Development Agency-ZDA-.
Ms.Sikaneta pointed out that the investors would be sowing the right seed by including Zambia as an investment destination as they establish companies in Africa.
She welcomed the proposal by the German Investors to set up small and medium enterprises saying it was a good move that could create employment among the youth.
Ms.Sikaneta said as it stands, the civil service was unable to absorb all graduates and it was through creating enterprises that the youths could be self sufficient.
She also said the focus of the AU/EU summit recently held in Abijan , Ivory Coast acknowledged the need for the young population in Africa to have education and also venture into entrepreneurship .
Ms.Sikaneta said government was now focused on economic diplomacy and wanted to ensure that Zambia reaps benefits of being in good business, trade and economic relations with the outside world.
She said the government had seen that having good relations amongst countries was not enough hence the call for profitable economic diplomacy that benefit countries and peoples.
And the German investor pledged to establish a high level programme in Zambia that would focus on Foreign Direct Investment, establish a National Education Programme and initiate a Small and Medium entrepreneurship programme in Zambia.
Chairman and Founder of Abessinia Information Technology Company based in Ethiopia, Frank W Michel said his company will also focus on strengthening the International image of Zambia and intensify the relations with Germany.
He said Zambia has been targeted because of the good and stable economic environment.
Mr. Michel said unlike other countries that have no good investment portfolios, Zambia had proven itself to be a suitable investment destination.
He emphasized the need for Zambia to enhance its marketing of the countries Natural resources and investment opportunities to the outside world.
Mr. Michel said the education programme that will be introduced in Zambia will mainly focus on women and girls whose status need to be uplifted.
Where are the investors ? We were told by PF rats that investors will come flooding in after building $1 million/km roads….
Ethiopians are becoming tricksters preying on the docile Zambians
How do you pay your bills? you literally live here. you never miss an article and you always have something to say. Just saying, am not judging you
Lusaka Times, UNHCR High Commissioner’s name is Filippo Grandi.
Too much official corruption and too many thieving lazy employees.
A donki can’t believe it unless it were it.
It’s true. It’s easy to invest in zambia. But it’s not because of sound policies. It’s because we have a people running a country who can sell their own country forgetting that they have grand children who will need the land. Ignorance of land policy is what is attracting foreigners. Land ni sangwapo in zambia, as long as you can bribe someone at a City Council.
If wecare such a good investment point then why won’t IMF gives us a bailout loan.
Because we are at high risk of debt distress where your money can disappear .
Ask the israei emerald investor with a valid permit who was unceremoniously deported over a dispute with his government connected business partner.
We are easy for invest9 just look at the chinese selling chicken pieces and cooked maize sitting on the side of road.
Ask the chinese that have those gambling machines in bars further contributing to poverty innthe compounds.
We make investment decisions in an adhoc basis, get a consiistent plan, we have invested $1billion in aviation can we have a breakdown please