PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
Pretoria – Thursday, 2nd November, 2017
Zambia says the International Financing Corporations and the donor community have described her 7th National Development Plan (NDP) as the best development agenda in Africa
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning and National Development disclosed that the National Development Plan which was launched by the Republican President His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu in June this year had received commendation from World Bank, Economic Commission for Africa, and the United Nations.
He mentioned that the World Bank described the Plan as the best practice that modeled development in Africa while ECA noted that it was one of the models that was driving the development agenda on the continent.
Mr. Chola Chabala said Zambia’s development model has been applauded for its transformative agenda which integrates key areas of development pillars that included public-private sector participation.
He was speaking at the 2nd “Invest in Zambia” Bussiness Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa attended by over 200 business and investment delegates from both Zambia and South Africa.
Mr. Chabala said Zambia was creating a diversified and resilient economy through investments in agriculture, manufacturing, human capital and strategies to reduce inequalities between urban and rural areas.
He mentioned that the Mining sector has failed to spur job creation despite recording steady growth over the years, hence the need for diversification and the creation of investor-friendly policies to enable easy facilitation of investments and businesses in Zambia
And Zambia ‘s High Commissioner to South Africa His Excellency Mr Emmanuel Mwamba called on more South African and other African countries to invest in Zambia
He says Investors can invest in the agriculture sector as there is Vast land in Zambia and good Climate for Commercial Farming.
He added that his mission would pick the case of Trade Kings, that had invested in South Africa since 2010 but faced numerous regulatory and certification hurdles which resulted into non-tariff barriers against Zambian investors.
Meanwhile South Africa’s Head of Department for Trade and Industry Lerato Mataboge said her country was impressed to see Zambian products such as honey in most South African shops
Ms Mataboge said South Africa was ready to see more different Zambian companies invest in that country’s economy.
She said that the coherent framework of coordination in Zambia is admirable and almost all Ministries have a common language and development direction after the launch of the 7NDP.
She said this was critical given that previously there was a concern from investors about policy inconsistencies by Government.
She said this coordination mechanism was something South Africa could learn from.
Zambia-South Africa Business Forum(ZSBF) Vice Chair Zandile Tshabalala commended the 7NDP framework and encouraged countries like South Africa to learn from Zambia.
She said she found this worth mentioning adding that their was need to start turning tables around.
Mrs. Naomi Nyawali
First Secretary Press and Public Relations.
Zambia’s High Commission to South Africa.
Email kayulachulu@yahoo.com
press@zambiapretoria.net
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