PRESIDENT Banda is today expected to launch the construction of the Japanese company, Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia Limited in Lusaka, with an initial investment of US$15 million.
This is according to a press statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere.
“Hitachi is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of construction, mining and earthmoving equipment.
This is the first ever investment into the manufacturing sector by a Japanese company. It is expected to add impetus to President Banda’s desire to create more jobs for Zambians,” MrJere said.
He said President Banda is happy that Hitachi has picked on Zambia for its investment and that as a regional hub of Southern Africa, Zambia will provide valuable services to surrounding countries.
Mr Jere said the first phase of the project is expected to be completed by December this year, adding that if it is successful, the company will undertake an expansion programme which will extend the services to other major industrial entities in the region.
“Japan is one of Zambia’s largest co-operating partners and Hitachi’s ground-breaking investment is set to grow the countries’ relations ever stronger,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ambassador to Zambia Akio Egawa has commended Zambians for showing solidarity with the people of Japan after the earthquake and Tsunami which hit the country earlier in the year.
Mr Egawa expressed hope that Japan will emerge even stronger from the crisis and continue on its development agenda.
He said in Lusaka early this week that Japan has pledged to increase its aid to Africa to US$1.8 billion as part of its overseas development agenda.
He said his government is impressed with its investment in Africa, and has pledged to double its investment to US$4.2 billion.
Mr Egawa said Zambia needs to strengthen its private sector as a thrust towards achieving economic growth.
He said as part of its bilateral aid policy on Zambia, it would try to support the manufacturing sector because it is important to the attainment of inclusive, sustainable economic growth for the country.
And African Development Bank country representative Freddie Kwesiga said the private sector, as Government’s partner in efforts aimed at attaining economic growth, is faced with many constraints, especially the cost of doing business.
Dr Kwesiga said despite the private sector being the major contributor to job creation, it lacks financial resources to sustain their businesses.
He said the private sector in the country could be strengthened through franchising, which could ensure sustainable businesses.
Dr Kwesiga said franchising could grow the private sector and foster economic development in African countries.
He said the private sector contributes to poverty alleviation through job creation, and it is important that it is strengthened.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Fantastic news. The manufacturing sector in Zambia is growing as more FDI flows in. This is awesome news.
Let the fireworks begin. For some reason, both sides will find a way to spar over such a neutral and positive matter. We are slowly becoming a country of whiners and cry babies. Its like we are getting dumber and dumber, devoid of civility and ability to have an adult conversation based on facts and sound analysis.
When is he going to launch a NASA space craft? In 1 month he has launched more than the three previous Presidents launched. Sounds like Zambia has now surpassed US, India and China economically.The past 2 years US, India and China Presidents have launched nothing. Laughable politics.
This is great news. Looking forward to Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, etc, launching assembly and manufacturing plants in Zambia. Manufacturing/Production Industires is the way to go in development, not only consumption investment.
This is fantabulous, assuming it will come to fruition. I have a problem with the Dr from ADB though. He and others in his position always describe the problem ‘correctly’ but never offer solutions. Why stop at saying the private section do not have financial resources to sustain their businesses? Why not go further and explaining why it’s so? Why not also offer solution like a SMART ‘flexible financial resource’ for both the private sector and his market? This will ensure that both the supplier ‘private sector’ have their financial resources whilst the market ‘the consumer’ have the financial resources to effectively buy what is produced, and everyone is happy.
With all these projects RB is throwing around in government media, and a population of less than 7 million employment age citizens, Zambia must be having unemployment rate in the ranges of -5% (negatives). Anything else will be regarded as a hoax and posturing only.
@#3 Kalos, you’re such a negative dude when it comes to Zed. Obama launched his drive to raise money for rehabilitation of all of the runways at the major US airports in time with his re-election period. You didn’t call that laughable politics. Critics called it a campaign move whilst you had no negative opinion because you’re pro Obama. I suggest you judge the man (RB) fairly and propose a way of holding him and the Japs to this promise/launch. Afterall, this kind of investment is great for the country whether RB, Sata or HH are at the helm, and yes launching this at this point in time is a campaign move but certainly not laughable.
#6 I am totally in agreement. He does not seem to understand that project launches should go hand in hand with quality job creation. The more he launches the unemployed the nation becomes. Is he real or serious about his so called launches? He has launched and launched and launched and launched and launched …………. still launching and the list is endless. He is not fatigued by monotonously doing the same thing and alone. He seems to have no ministers. He is so obsessed to have plagues engraved “…. was launched by his excellency the mighty one who ruled zambia…” It is laughable indeed.
From FLY-MANIA to LAUNCH-MANIA!! How I wish all these Launches were actually COMMISSIONINGS!! Let us wait & see!!
# 7 Roger, probably you need to discuss my statement on # 6. It will be better if we look at every launching critically and why even with you being “positive”, tell us what all these projects he has launched and commissioned has benefited the thousands of youths walking the streets and the hundreds of graduates that cannot find jobs in the land of millions of launches and commissioning of projects by your president. Being negative when stating facts or pointing out lies is not negative but positive since all lies are are always negative.
this is what am talking about. Hitachi is no joke and if we apply the law of the Domino effect, other huge manufacturing international companies are sure to follow!
IF YOU STARTED THIS WAY FROM THE BEGINNING,YOU COULD HAVE STOOD A BETTER CHANCE OF CONTINUING AS PRESIDENT.INSTEAD,U WERE IN SAFE MODE ENRICHING YOURSELF,STARTED WITH STEALING AND LEGALIZING CORRUPTION IN ZAMBIA.THE FIRST IMPRESSION IS VERY IMPORTANT.NOW YOU WANT TO SMEAR BUTTER ON PEOPLE’S FACES BY USING ALL THESE COMMISSIONINGs AND LAUNCHES.IT WILL NOT WORK.ALL THE SAME THE VOTE GOES TO SATA,COZ HE CAN DO MORE RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.WE ALREADY KNOW YOU AS A MAN OF LEISURE AND PLEASURE.WE WANT MEN OF ACTION.VOTE SATA PERIOD,TIRED OF RUBBISH.
Very good baba keep it up we moving in the right direction as a country
I only hope this is not just assembly work which will be done for huge machines. We need serious high tech industries operating full fledged, its much like having giant Toyota company but no car is made in Zambia, just a distribution and simple repair plant!
I regret that this project CANNOT be a manufacturing plant. The amount of money being mentioned cannot even rehabilitate the burnt our ZNBS building!
Positive news. I’ve a hitach machine and it has worked for years. just strengthen labur laws.
most of you old men here blogging all the time are just rubbish aswell mwe, its your right anyway to blog its a free world. you are too big headed for nothing with your analysis, be it senior citizen pro gov or the pabwato madalas. you may be educated but i think most of you are not wise. some of you should go back home and stand on pf ticket or mmd, lets see what your can do. make you sure you have a blog so that we can see your progress. i will follow you on twitter. a bad regime is removed from power only to be replaced by a bad one. something i read from a wise man che guevara.
Japan is Zambia’s all weather friend, we need many Japanese comanies in Zambia. RB you deserve my vote and the votes of all my more than 1000 relatives.
This is the real investment that our country needs. The manufacturing sector has stagnated forever and not seen real investment in a long time. This will create sustainable jobs for our people. Japan has been an all weather friend…..but too bad for rupiah…too little too late
I have been following the recent developments in Zambia and must say that what RB is doing is what we expect from a president. He should be concentrating on the bigger picture and my only hope is that he is not playing politics seeing that the elections are just around the corner. My other hope is that whoever wins the elections should continue with the developments and if possible do even more. I like what I am seeing and end by saying “God bless Zambia”.
Iwe # 10 you do not create jobs in a day man! Be sincere with yourself.
Oh, sorry. I did not know that RB has been in office only for a day. My bad. So Zambia has never had a President since LPM died. Anyway, I understand, you can say that since the past two years Banda has been a president in the air flying around.
There is nothing for RB to brag about its just that the world economic order has changed with emerging economies like China and India which have stimulated growth. When investment opportunities start flowing in there is no stoppage. Well its good some people will get employed and this in turn with have multiplier effects on the community. We have big mining operations in DR Congo and for Hitachi to put up a plant in Zambia its not based on MMD politics but economic consderation and relative peace we have maintained as Zambians.
Rupiah has been in office for less than three years. Is it really fair for anybody to say too little too late. Who are these miracle workers who will be better than Rupiah in just three years? Most Zambians I know are reasonable and will give some one chance to have a complete period of office. As for my fellow Bembas, I think we can wait until we identify a candidate we can proudly send to the UN and would not embarass our country. Rupiah, thank you for Hitachi. Please continue to create jobs. Before long the impact will be clear to all.
Bravo! this is good news. Let us attract more investors. As someone said, i wish these were actualy being commissioned. Anyway, viva developmental projects whatever time.
As far as I know, a govt is elected for a five year term so why should it stop working just because the election is round the corner? Anywhere in the world, the incumbent govt tries to stay in power by introducing policies that they feel will please the electorate so what RB is doing is not unusual and will be the same thing that Chilucipher Satan will do if elected (God forbid).
This is BIG, Hitachi is not a small company, this is very good for Zambia, with such investments, Zambia could soon be one of the biggest economies in Africa.
This is how you create jobs, not Sata’s 90 day economic miracles, i think i will stick with RB
Imwe bantu please! Somebody educate me about the difference between LAUNCHING & COMMISSIONING … in my view it’s the same thing said differently! I see somebody has run out of ammunition for criticism. Well done RB for this wonderful economically beneficial development. This is what is expected of a performing president. You have my vote!
Its exactly 20:40 now in Queensland Australia. I need the president to luanch me off to sleep with my beautiful wife in our soft bed. Good going RB
Kalos2121 #10, please refer Roger, your critic to an observation by Dr. Guy Scott in The Post at http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=20885… It makes interesting, hilarious, and very startling reading. I support your observations. Suddenly we will even have a launch of incredible proportions that will be derelict soon after the last vote has been cast. I know Guy is an opposition VP but then again there seems to be a very good observation in his satirical account!
I am absolutely one hundred percent precisely convinced that Zambia is moving in the right direction. We need more capital expedinture and developmental projects like this. These projects are recessions busters. I love our president, he is done more than many people could do in 10 and 20 years. Zambia this time doesn’t need politics of insults, talk is cheap. We need people and systems that deliver results & visionaries. We as Zambians have a dream to develop. Shame on all the bloggers who insult people who genuinely want to develop. I am always proud of Zambia. Lets keep on doing this and create more jobs & wealth among our people, I know we have the potential to more Zambia to developed status. Those in politics of insults are light years backwards, we are civilised people as Zambians.
Umwina Nkana #26… usually a commissioning is one done on an ongoing, functioning concern such as a plant that has already entered production. Usually a launch could refer to either this or a beginning of a setup… There is a slight difference. Currently there have been more launches than commissionings. In fact, District hospitals that have been commissioned are largely empty!!!!
I keep asking for bloggers who can actually give us an on-the-ground assessment of the commissionings and launches. I know for a fact that the Hitachi factory is still at foundation level without any production as yet. That said, there is also the railway line in Chipata that is not seeing any trains running. These are facts bloggers in those areas are observing and wondering if these launches are an economic factor or just a long-term viability… Read back into history at launches such as the Tika steel plant and others so we can infer some lessons in the current scenario…
Am inviting Mr RB to come and launch my new toilet at my business premises in kamwala too
Nomba uyu chikala, fyonse inku lusaka fye nigaku copperbelt ukufuma d$ll$r? CB mune tawakapite
The impression one gets from the LT blog is that we Zambians are overly pessimistic and perhaps low on self-esteem. More concerning is the obsession with the the position of President. The bigger picture, or the ability to see the trees for the woods, is almost always missing. Sure, RBB launches these projects to electioneer, and that’s expected, but it does not take away the fact that this is good news i.e. FDI. Other smaller businesses by you the entrepreneur, and don’t insult yourself by calling it kantemba, will emerge. Plus jobs. Please let us use our energies to be creative rather than focus so much on insulting our leaders and each other. To me this is good news and the commissioning by Sata, HH, RBB a total redherring.
What will Hitachi be doing here or building from the $15m? Where the facility or plant? Will they trading only, or servicing equipment already operating in t he mines or will it be an assembly or manufacturing plant? not clear from the article..can’t comment.
Countrymen, much as I would like to be joyful about this project I cannot help, but question whether the headline is misleading. In the first instance, if a heavy duty manufacturing plant can cost $15million, then how come refurbishing a burnt out building can cost almost 5 – 6 times more? I am left to conclude that the manufacturing that will take place might be for a specific spare part or this whole project is just an assembly plant. I stand to be corrected by those with specific information!
Great news. The Japaneese are very good manufacturers and investors.
There is a diseased blogger who goes by the name Kalos2121. He or she must have been conceived in a middle of a hot argument.
Revamp NCZ plse,much as we welcome outside investments,its high time we encouraged LOCAL investors NOT Foreign.These foreigners come to ripp up whaterever investments they put money into.Why should MMD approve addtional K21billion to mobile hospitals while empowering trading companies like Nyiyombo investments at the expense of local NCZ plant in kafue.Give ZCCM investment holdings mining rights to start mining and create more jobs,foreign firms wont build our country,its Zambians
#22 he found everything in place by the late president. But mwebantu how many projects is going to commission? where are his ministers?
# 20, Oh, sorry. I did not know that RB has been in office only for a day. My bad. So Zambia has never had a President since LPM died. Anyway, I understand, you can say that since the past two years Banda has been a president in the air flying around. Testing the Challenger Jet to see if it can fly and land. I am told soon the makers of Challenger Jets will be featuring RB on their commercials for how strong and resilient these jets are.
It’s an assembly plant, and not a manufacturing factory. Hope some parts needed will be manufactured in Zambia…
Now you will see how people work! I hope Zambians back home will learn from the Japanese and get some positives from their work culture. Hitachi doumo arigatou gozaimashita (Hitachi thank you very much).
My prayers answered. I have said we need to invite Japanese companies to Zambia, because the Japanese are honorable and hard working people. They are the most unshady partners in development Zambia could ever ask for. Great news.
The opposition, both leaders and followers must be very annoyed at the development taking place. I say this not because normal people are supposed to be annoyed when govt is delivering but because I have watched the behavoir of opposition in Zambia for some time now. It is not worth admiring at all.
RB, thanks alot. As long as you have the mandate please keep working hard. Detracters will always be there because that is their nature. When the noise makers in town try to mess you up, the rural population will intervene to stop chaos from coming. Viva Rural Vote.