The government says it will not relent in its quest to promote and attract trade and meaningful investment in the country.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga said his ministry is targeting to ensure that meaningful investments are realized in all sectors of the economy by creating a conducive business environment.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the inaugural EU Zambia Economic Forum in Lusaka, Mr Mulenga said government is focused on implementing policies that will transform the economic landscape of the country.
“Today we see and witness another milestone being achieved in the quest to increase trade and investment in our country,” said Mr Mulenga.
He said the forum should signify the beginning of times that the EU and Zambia began doing business in a different manner.
Mr Mulenga said Zambia should not only focus on trade and investment but value addition that will give birth to industrialization in the country.
The minister said after the end of the summit, his ministry will engage the EU Delegation to Zambia to build on the gains of the forum.
Speaking at the same forum, AU Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining, Albert Muchanga urged Zambian businesses not to restrict themselves to the Zambian market that has only 18 million consumers but look at the African market that has 1.6 billion people.
Ambassador Muchanga said Zambia needs to mobilise resources and increase its share of global trade.
He said this can be attained through moving away from production and export of commodities to value addition.
Mr Muchanga said Zambia should take advantage of the Intra African Trade Fair as a vehicle for marketing Zambian products and creating business linkages.
He said the AU created the African Trade Observatory that shows market opportunities of all exports, imports and investments.
Ambassador Muchanga wondered why African countries only access about US$48 billion out of US$279 trillion dollars global investment funds and challenged the continent to change the narrative and access the funds to invest in their economies.
And EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski said there is need to strengthen the longstanding trade and investment relations.
Ambassador Wojciechowski said the EU is keen to support Zambia’s agriculture sector so that it can tap into the food gap created by the Russia –Ukraine war.
He said there is need to support small scale farmers in Zambia and the world to ensure food security in the country and the globe.
Ambassador Wojciechowski pointed out that according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) small scale farmers use about 12 percent of land to produce 35 per cent of the world’s food.
Mr Wojciechowski said there is need for Zambia to transform its economy to the global green model as it has sustainable benefits to the country and people.
The EU Zambia Economic Forum which runs from May 17 to 19 2022, is being held under the theme Economic Transformation through Green Growth.
Aid from eu in exchange for allowing gayness. This is one thing our father ecl refused with pride. Why should we do away with our morals all for money. Let hh allow his children to be gay not mine
GAY RIGHTS WILL COME TO ZAMBIA EVENTUALLY
AS FAR AS LITERACY IS CONCERNED WE STILL IN THE DARK AGES
THE RIGHT TO LIVE FREELY IS ENSHRINED IN MOST CONSTITIONS
AND TO THE HYPOCRIT 23% OF MEN PRACTICE SUCH IN THEIR OWN HOMES
GET REAL MAN
Forums, Indabas, workshops, all I see is greedy faces from mining giants eager to uproot and pollute the country side. But NO DECISIONS are being made and in the meantime inflation is sky-rocketing, loadshedding is around the corner, corruption is back on the street and the president is wearing his musungu white gloves again. No I don’t want Edgar China Lungu back – but yes I am disappointed in the New Dawn government not getting anything done!
The UK based Troll/Impostor is laying traps and you are taking the bait much to his excitement thereby distracting you from the article all together.
Tikki that is your plan. As upnd you want to bring that dirtiness here but you won’t manage. You can allow it in your ugly grandfather’s hut in monze but not here. If anyone supports this dirty let them join you there in diaspora.
The only way we can have meaningful trade with the EU is by owning our resources here at home , running our own mines, banks industries etc and by creating an alternative payment system different from swift through which we receive proceeds from gold copper and other stuff we can be ableto sell to them. Stop dreaming,, thinking that if they invest here they will leave a bigger chunk.
SOMETIMES THE RIDICULOUS COMMENTS NEED A COUNTER REPLY
I DO NOT TURN THE OTHER CHEEK
NOT WHILST OTHERS ON HERE STILL THINK HE IS THE REAL DEAL
NEVER ANYTHING OF SUBSTANCE JUST COPY PASTE PAST COMMENTS
Hahaha…..Funny how Lungu and PF failed to even be in the same room with europeans in fear of catching the “gay” bug. I think the main reason was that Lungu was a shy or maybe just a icikopo leader who would rather send Bulldozer to mining indaba (plus tour Robben Island and other sites in CPT) and hope for the best to come out of that. Lungu’ style of leadership is dangerous, HH’ mistakes and short coming are there for everyone to see. Lady Luck favours the one who tries. ECL never tried to be a leader.
No sir Kaiser this is trade not AID…trying to grow the market so that even your business can grow. However even as we meet the EU we should remember that UK now trades outside the EU and is equally looking for partnerships
Tuma PF clowns like KZ running out of things to critisize have bee reduced to blabbing about gay rights. hahahahaha! Shame.
Dude love even your name sounds very gay you upnd cadre