The State House was honored to welcome His Excellency Eng. Abdurahman Abdulmohsen A. Alfadley, the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and his delegation today. President Hakainde Hichilema expressed gratitude to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, for sending the delegation to Zambia and for the generous gift of a hospital constructed in Lusaka.
Discussions between the two parties centered on strengthening the economic relationship between Zambia and Saudi Arabia in alignment with Zambia’s Foreign Policy of Economic Diplomacy. President Hichilema emphasized Zambia’s abundance of resources and highlighted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s advanced technology, signaling potential for mutually beneficial cooperation.
During the meeting, exploration of the economic relationship encompassed various sectors, including capital mobilization, technology exchange, joint ventures, and beneficiation, with a particular emphasis on value addition. President Hichilema stressed the importance of leveraging Saudi Arabia’s expertise and resources to enhance Zambia’s economic growth and development.
In addition to agriculture, President Hichilema appealed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to consider investment opportunities in Zambia’s mining sector, particularly in critical minerals such as manganese, cobalt, nickel, and copper. He highlighted the significance of these minerals in driving industrialization and economic diversification in Zambia.
The meeting between President Hichilema and Minister Alfadley symbolizes the commitment of both countries to exploring avenues for collaboration and partnership. It reflects Zambia’s proactive approach to engaging with international partners to harness its economic potential and promote sustainable development.
As discussions progress, both parties look forward to further strengthening their ties and exploring concrete opportunities for cooperation that will benefit the people of Zambia and Saudi Arabia alike.
Begger mentality…generous gift ????? We should be ashamed of ourselves being perpetual beggers…and Saudi Arabia is going home with our minerals
During the meeting, the exploration of the economic relationship encompassed various sectors, including capital mobilization, technology exchange, joint ventures, and beneficiation, with a particular emphasis on value addition. President Hichilema stressed the importance of leveraging Saudi Arabia’s expertise and resources to enhance Zambia’s economic growth and development.
Where is begging here?
Bilateral relations are very important but we must drift away from this mentality that only investment from outside will develop Zambia. It is good that Hakainde has acknowledged the gift of a hospital which was negotiated during the reign of his predecessor Edgar Chagwa Lungu. National development is incremental, this means that Hakainde will leave the Debt and undeveloped sections of our economy and perhaps improve one or two areas. Someone else will take over and carry on. Rubbishing all that you find even visibly good things is not wisdom at all.
@Choolwe Haantuba
Unfortunately thats our mindset….you can imagine even our own Tourism industry is in the hands of foreigners….Major Hardware stores are owned by Foreigners….Supermarket chains are owned by Foreigners….and the best thing that we know better is to be a die hard soccer fan of Arsenal or Man U…..drink Mosi and womanizing
Who is to blame for this mess? It is our economic policies from the past and present. There have never been deliberate policies by any past government to empower citizens. So complaining is not the solution. We as Zambians must lobby Members of Parliaments to bring laws that aim to empower citizens to be active in the running of the economy.
Fellow Zambians, it’s time we stopped fighting each other but let us try to empower each other.