Friday, March 29, 2024

President Hakainde Hichilema meets European Investment Bank (EIB) delegation

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President Hakainde Hichilema has held a meeting with European Investment Bank (EIB) delegation, led by its President, Werner Hoyer.

President Hichilema said that during the meeting, he briefed Dr. Hoyer about Zambia’s three priorities which are to recover, repair and revive the economy, adding that Zambia is keen on cooperating with the EIB on priority areas such as climate mitigation, infrastructure development, small and medium enterprise support, and human development.

President Hichilema said that the EIB delegation was informed that even though his administration inherited a bad economy saddled with high inflation and interest rates, coupled with unsustainable debt, his team is determined to put the country back on track.

He reiterated that he is keen on rooting out corruption completely so that any partnership with the EIB will be properly structured to benefit both parties and most especially the people of Zambia.

President Hichilema said Zambia’s best assets are its people, who are hardworking but have been let down by successive Governments and this is one of the things that his administration has embarked on correcting the very first day it formed government.

The President used the opportunity to sell Zambia’s tourism as well as send a message to investors that the country is open for joint ventures and that Zambians are ready to revitalize the economy.

In response, Dr. Hoyer reaffirmed his team’s commitment to work with the people of Zambia to address the challenges they face.

The President is among several African leaders in Brussels, Belgium, attending the sixth European Union-Africa Union (EU-AU) summit.
The 2 days summit, which has since opened, is being held under the theme AFRICA AND EUROPE – TWO CONTINENTS WITH A JOINT VISION FOR 2030.
The summit presents a unique opportunity to lay the foundations for a renewed and deeper EU-AU partnership with the highest political involvement and based on trust and a clear understanding of mutual interests.
President Hakainde Hichilema has said that Zambia will illustrate its readiness to creating an enabling business environment on joint ventures basis.
He has explained that Zambia intends to further explore the existing Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) and how the country can leverage on them.

41 COMMENTS

  1. This awesome news for Zambians. We have a serious president in state house. This what a presidential trip should look like. Not drinking expensive wine and Jameson on the expensive jet.

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  2. But although the president committed himself to sell the presidential jet, he is now using it on this trip to Brussels, with or without Jameson’s! Bally, why did you break your promise to get rid of the jet?

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  3. Kagame of Rwanda pleaded with fellow African Presidents to stop goin to Europe for photo shooting but instead let African Presidents speak to each other because there problems can be solved within Africa.There is no free meal from Europe.Look at what he has done to Rwanda why can’t our leaders swallow there pride and go to Rwanda and learn something from there colleague

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  4. Shame with all the resources we have we’ve just reduced ourselves to beggers….This Demagogue President HH is a sellout….Puppet of the west…we need people like Julius Malema….not house negroes as leaders

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  5. #2  No Corruption Zambia

    That expensive jet with a $300 missile defense system is parked in zambia…….

    The president is right to emphasis on human resources………

    Zambia has educated peopled but does not have enough trained artisans to attract large investments like electronic assembly plants or even enough well trained tailors to open up a textile industry

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  6. #5  Saulosi
     February 18, 2022 At 9:06 am

    “Shame with all the resources we have we’ve just reduced ourselves to beggers….This Demagogue President HH is a sellout….Puppet of the west…we need people like Julius Malema….not house negroes as leaders..”

    Look at this one………..

    Ati we need julius malema……?????

    Even the mighty China started off with and still seeks Western technology…………

    Ati julius malema ????

    Hehehehehe………..

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    • There is nothing like Western technology any longer. Technology is global. There’snt a technology that is entirely from one region of the world. Africans are being left out of technological advancement because they still possess this colonial view that all technology comes from Europe. The Asians have embraced the technology and made Toyota, Hyundai, Samsung etc theirs. This is the way the world progresses

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  7. No Corruption – President used Bombardier Challenger 604 call sign 9J-ONE …these guys have blacked it we can not track it now on Flight 24/7…last time the Gulfstream G650ER call sign AF001 flew out was on the 11th February on a test flight around Lusaka,

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  8. “….On priority areas such as climate mitigation…”
    “…He reiterated that he is keen on rooting out corruption completely so..”
    “…The President used the opportunity to sell Zambia’s tourism…”
    Seemingly, every time I read or hear HH speak I get a little annoyed. Priority areas are climate change and he also wants to encourage tourism when he was an appraiser for the mining in lower Zambezi in 2005 and he had/has the power to halt mining in the NP by presidential decree.
    Corruption? LOL! He kept quiet over leaked audio and the fertilizer scandal.

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  9. Also, our President’s body language needs improvement, he looks timid most of the time. He further needs to stay home more and solve our problems.

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    • Very true. But even Lungu was equally bad. State House needs to know there are people who canteach you how to project yourself when walking standing and speaking to others. You just don’t take the village walk to Lusaka then London and Washington

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  10. Saulosi – I marked you down …it seem HH7 can do nothing right in your eyes. I am wondering where your sidekick Deja Vu is…really laughable.

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  11. They are all looking at HH that you are an id1ot…….

    Why are you coming here begging for loans when your country is full of naturals resources that you should be using to create capital ?

    Go back and inspire your people to become entrepreneurs…….

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  12. #15  Marcus Garvey
     February 18, 2022 At 1:02 pm

    “.,…,Go back and inspire your people to become entrepreneurs…….”

    You think every Zambian must be an entrepreneur ???

    Who is going to process those resources ??

    The Chinese and indians ???

    The country needs other skills and capital………

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  13. Zambia is the 4th richest country in Africa in terms of mineral resources. It is number one in terms of water resources in SADC region. It is the 4th most peaceful country in Africa and Zambians are well known for being frinedly. You have one of the best environments for agriculture (crops, livestock and fisheries). Unrock this potential and be export oriented. There is huge potential in tourism-Embassies should be transformed to be marketing offices for the country and make Zambia the prime tourist destination in Southern Africa.

  14. @Saulosi
    When will you realise we cant do anything for our country
    but can do plenty for ourselves by enrichment
    you blame HH ? Did this not start 57 years ago ?
    Also doesnt this apply to africa ?

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  15. Very interesting comments from our Zambians. Let us utilise our natural resources instead of going to beg . Zambia is capable to improve its economy by working hard . If we continue with same way of begging. Those whites are just laughing at Africa. We though hh will not go and beg but using same system of begging. We are not going any where.

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  16. SPAKA ” 16

    Where did I say or think that … EVERY ZAMBIAN MUST BE AN ENTREPRENEUR ….in my statement?

    Because its realistic’ to have a nation just full of entrepreneurs. We need workers in all sectors such doctors, teachers, engineers, etc

    You SPAKA .. are the one who is saying every Zambian must be an entrepreneur.

    I know you are always an angry, emotional person, which often makes you over react every day when you are glued to Lusakatimes copying and pasting other people’s comments…….

    But I did not know that you also struggle to read and understand the English Language. And why bring in the Chinese and Indians?

    Dude.. sort yourself out. Spare us from your frustrated life……

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  17. @ Tikki you are right. There is something called fake nationalism which makes people blind to the realities of the current global economic order. Zambia should indeed develop itself but unfortunately the Zambians bear a huge debt and don’t have enough capital required to pull the economy out of slumber. That is why HH/government has to market the country to get more capital inflows and investments- whether that comes from EU, US, UK, China, Russia, Japan or wherever.

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  18. @Awe Sure the education system we go through teaches us to beg from Europe. We graduate from there with the mentality that we need Europe’s help to exploit our resources. The Chinese focused on themselves. They taught themselves in Europe and American universities about Science and technology and then used it to develop their own industries. We on the other hand have no pride in ourselves so we are only ripe for state capture. HH and Zuma are the same even if one of them has a degree

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  19. @Saulosi our Fawning nature didnt come with HH. In fact HH, Chiluba, Lungu Levy name them are all a product of our education. School teaches us that we must emulate and imitate the white man so our president will be like any other Zambian. Ready to discard his Africanness to become succesful. That is what school bbrainwashed him to do.. Once in a while you will have a revolutionary like Kagame but most Africans will remain mental slaves.

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  20. i think the personal photographer of our presido should teach our government official on how to pose on foreign delegation pic!! The body languages tells the story that we are begging!!!!lol

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  21. MBA Holder- Its no longer mandatory to wear face masks in most European countries they have relaxed the guidelines.

  22. #7.1  Defector DNA 
    February 18, 2022 At 8:28 pm

    “..There is nothing like Western technology any longer. Technology is global. There’snt a technology that is entirely from one region of the world. Africans are being left out of technological advancement becaus…..”

    Bwana……..western technology remains supreme……..

    Technology trends start in the west……..

    The richest companies are western……..

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  23. #21  Marcus Garvey
     February 18, 2022 At 6:49 pm

    “SPAKA ” 16

    Where did I say or think that … EVERY ZAMBIAN MUST BE AN ENTREPRENEUR ….in my statement?

    Because its realistic’ to have a nation just full of entrepreneurs……..” ??????

    You say HEHH should go back to teach his people to be entrepreneurs, while we all know we need more human development than just entrepreneurs……….

    Atleast if you don’t know how to express yourself in English, use bemba or nyanja….

  24. These meetings and Investor relations meetings are good but Investors of value must come to regions of potential economic interest in Zambia especially for critical resources in those value chains and invest they already have the supply chains and potential economic Areas in mind except as in this occasion being reminded of the potentialities The fifeso funds must appropriate considerable funding to support those efforts in there We also hope these leaders in developed more to also attend and see exhibitions in our local markets and regions particular SADC and invest locally here to export to those global markets It’s a good meeting that should result in trades and Investments on social and economic goods

  25. There are challenges in the EU with its members and 20 million children’s under challenges So looking for potentialities that will realise value for all regional markets global and Africa SADC in particular as aregional will yield more results apart reciprocal attendance of regional meetings with Africa should result in a win win situations apart from the traditional Chinese focac or Russia top leadership attended because that is what is differentiating the pledge and actual ground investments

  26. Why don’t we get more shares in the mines so that we benefit more from our own mineral resources? Partnerships can start even with existing foreign companies. How long are we going to just standby and watch foreigners haul our resources out, make billions of dollars for themselves and leave us miserably poor!. Then, we go and beg from them!

  27. Since people are saying the previous governments stole money why would they trust this government not to? Elo shouldn’t it be the minister of finance meeting these colonialists? Then again this man trusts no one. He will be minister of every ministry. Brace yourselves. Popcorn please

  28. The trades and Investments startergy towards EU for country Zambia is basically paused and very weak You gain in Financials and Trade if you have a startergy and better policy that also is effective in those onourous tariff structures Africa and private firms to be effective can be taken on board That one like Boris is a from a small fish town in France like Boris in UK minorities but June 2022 elections will point to It’s been a good meeting hoping for the best outcomes

  29. The two EU friends though from minority regions and divided support in EU and individual parliaments have shown massive support to African countries like Zambia but West Africa part have better trade relations than the south So heading into June 2022 he will win but parliament is questionable meaning he still has the elections in mind and dedicated to that that is why private lead could work given also capital constraints by quasi Otherwise local drive plus foreign FDI participations will grow the Zambian economy

  30. It’s individual firm level country’s Regional Africa into the EU approach “bottom up'” with direct linkages and contact with EU the valued market Individual countries have the leverage to be impactful in the relationship though it was expected that hard issues apart from covid and the Sahel could have been the core to moving trades and Investments anyway next time

  31. The pledge is 150billion euros. This one is 62 m euro But the trade balances are poor that should be the focus I this 2030 it’s what you make of it and align each party receiving and taking 2 way traffic

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