President Hakainde Hichilema has called on Zambians to take advantage of the country’s improved credit rating to invest and create employment opportunities.
Speaking at a press conference at State House today, President Hichilema said the improved credit rating has attracted more investors to the country, adding that Zambians should capitalize on this positive development.
Mr Hichilema indicated that the credit rating will translate into Zambia having more investors coming into the country.
President Hichilema said the government has put in place measures to improve the business environment and attract investments, and it is now up to Zambians to seize the opportunities available.
“The improved credit rating is expected to boost investor confidence and attract more investments into the country, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth,” he said.
Mr Hichilema noted that the upgrade has positioned the country as a meeting place for business and investment, with countries from the east, west, Middle East and the Arab world showing interest in doing business with Zambia.
“The mining sector is already experiencing a revival, with several mines that were previously considered dead now back to life and the influx of investments is a testament to the government’s efforts to improve the business environment,” he added.
“This is a time to celebrate together as a nation, we have worked hard to get here and we will continue to work hard to ensure that Zambia becomes a prosperous country, ” he said.
He also urged Zambians to work hard and contribute to the country’s development.
The President’s remarks come after Zambia’s credit rating was upgraded by international rating agencies, citing the government’s efforts to improve the country’s economic outlook and debt restructuring.
President Hakainde Hichilema has also praised the successful restructuring of Zambia’s debt, which has led to an improvement in the country’s credit rating and attracted more investors.
He said the government has worked hard to restructure the country’s debt, achieving a 94 percent success rate.
“This is a significant milestone for Zambia and we have moved from being a basket case to a viable country, attractive to investors,” he said.
The President attributed the success to the hard work of the government, the support of cooperating partners, and the patience of the Zambian people.
“We did not say who created the debt, we just worked hard to address the problem and today we are seeing the benefits of our efforts, with more investors coming into the country,” he added.
The President highlighted several areas where the government has made progress, including education, employment, and infrastructure development.
“We have introduced free education, and over 2.3 million children have come back to school and we have also created employment opportunities, with nearly 100,000 young people employed in the public sector, ” he said.
Mr Hichilema also emphasised the importance of inclusivity and unity in driving the country’s development.
“We must work together as one nation, one people, one Zambian, we must be accommodative and work towards inclusion, not exclusion,” he emphasised.
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