President Hakainde Hichilema has underscored that the EU-ZAMBIA partnership calls for shared vision for it to work, citing that the EU and Zambia Partnership is mutual.
The President has hailed the earlier EU signing of the railway initiative, noting that it underscores the position of Zambia in the region, to produce locally and increase its market.
The President was speaking when he chaired the bilateral meeting between Zambia and the delegates from the EU immediately after the official opening session of the three-day EU-Zambia Lobito Corridor Business Forum which opened today at Ciela Resort in Chongwe district.
Mr Hichilema expressed happiness saying the EU-ZAMBIA partnership means a lot to both parties, underscoring that Zambia brings genuine intentions to the business table between Europe and Zambia.
The EU Commission partnership is critical because it responds directly to the Zambian people, citing that joint work through value added ventures are established such as building industries.
He called the Lobito Corridor as the corridor of opportunities calling for diversification in trade routed, noting that this can actualise jobs for Zambia resilience for Europe.
The Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane responded to the foregoing saying that getting done with the corridor needs job creation, citing that the influx of illegal migrants on the continent is as a result of lack of jobs.
He highlighted a vital point for Europe which he says often undermined, noting that with more value addition in the country will grow the middle class in Africa.
When the country and continent has more of the middle class, with finances they will be able to buy more from Europe hence a win-win situation.
Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati says Technology will be deployed as a key enabler particularly fiber along the corridor calling it transformative as it will facelift the country.
He noted the importance of the corridor for Zambia’s value chain in improving food security noting that he has signed a 30 million euro agreements to actualise these on the corridor.
EU ambassador to Zambia commended the government and her team for the continuous hard work in ensuring that the work is done.
Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Charles Milupi reiterated that to achieve a prosperous Zambia and the continent is also Europe’s desire and mutual collaboration.
He has since commended the President for actively reactivating this through his call for development.
They will sell us back the finished product at a higher price after they get our raw natural resources using the Lobito corridor, so it is in their interest to fund it. They benefit more than us, this is a no brainer. Why don’t they fund our most pressing need for now, which is power.