PRETORIA – 19TH DECEMBER, 2016 – MINISTER of National Development Planning, Mr. Lucky Mulusa has commended the performance of Zambia’s High Commission in South Africa saying the Mission was leading by example and that there was need for others to emulate what the Mission was doing.
Mr. Mulusa has observed that the High Commission has repositioned itself by leaning more on economic diplomacy which was currently a world-wide paradigm shift away from the traditional political diplomacy.
The Minister, who participated in the ‘Invest in Zambia Business Forum’ organised by the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria in conjunction with the Zambia-South Africa Business Forum (ZSABF) held in Johannesburg on 3rd November, 2016, says that the work done by the Mission has compelled him to commend the Pretoria Mission.
Mr. Mulusa said this in a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Harry Kalaba which has also been copied to Commerce Minister Mrs. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Roland Msiska, Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Ambassador Chalwe Lombe and Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba.
‘You may be aware that I was recently in South Africa where I participated in the Zambia investment forum whose objective was to market Zambia as a viable investment destination in the sub-region. The business forum attracted prominent speakers and personalities who included our High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Emmanuel Mwamba, Chief Executive Officers and trade investment advisors of strategic institutions in Africa. “
“The forum was a huge success mainly due to the diligent work and ingenuity on the part of our Mission in South Africa. The work done by the Mission compels me beyond measure to send this letter of commendation,” Mr. Mulusa said.
He thanked the Foreign Affairs Minister for extending the invitation to him through the High Commissioner’s office pointing out that his participation at the forum accorded him an opportunity to articulate Zambia’s development priorities and to justify the country’s favourable policy environment in addition to its resource endowment.
“This disposition should help stimulate flow of investment in the country if it is persistently articulated. The Zambian story may be familiar among us and yet it can be so remotely unknown beyond our borders and this requires our Missions to be re-tooled and place much of their emphasis on economic diplomacy and bring in the much needed Foreign Direct Investment,” Mr. Mulusa said.
He noted that the Mission in South Africa was leading by example and that there was need for other Missions to re-orient their focus and incline their operations and personnel to advancing economic diplomacy and contribute to accelerating growth and development by luring credible investors to Zambia through such fora.
And more recent, as part of President Lungu’s State Visit which ran from 7 – 9th December, 2016, the High Commission also organised a business forum at Freedom Park in Pretoria. The business forum, which was preceded by a discussion forum between Zambians and South African business and investment personalities, was later addressed by President Lungu and South Africa’s President, His Excellency Mr. Jacob Zuma.
Issued by:
Nicky Shabolyo
Press Secretary
ZAMBIAN HIGH COMMISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Cell: +27 (0) 810027548
Email: press@zambiapretoria.net or nshabolyo@gmail.com