A high-level business delegation from Turkey representing a cross-section of industrial and commercial establishments, is next month expected in Zambia to explore investment and business opportunities.
Chargé d’ Affaires at the Zambian Mission in Turkey, Bwalya Nondo, said the delegation under the umbrella of the Turkey-Zambia Business Council, will be led by Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Fatih Metin.
Mr Nondo who conferred with Turkey-Zambia Business Council Chairperson, Esra Cevahir in Ankara yesterday, highlighted agriculture, energy, construction , tourism, manufacturing and mining as some of the sectors in which the delegation is interested.
Mr Nondo said leveraging investment opportunities in these areas will set the pillars of economic development as spelt out in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) into motion to give impetus to the realization of the Vision 2030.
He said it is important to harness the rich natural resources that Zambia is endowed with through setting up of manufacturing industries.
Mr. Nondo said Zambia is poised for an economic boom given the interest that the country is attracting as a preferred investment of choice.
He added that attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country will have a multiplier effect and contribute to technology advancement and employment creation.
Mr. Nondo noted that the Turkey-Zambia Business Council will also enable Zambia enhance export of non-traditional products as part of product export diversification to boost economic growth.
The Turkey-Zambia Business Council was established last year as a brainchild of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK).
While in Zambia, the delegation will hold meetings with the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), which constitutes membership to the Turkey-Zambia Business Council, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), among others.
This is contained in a statement issued by First Secretary at the embassy of Zambia Jerry Munthali in Ankara, Turkey.
This is what Embassies should be doing! Turkey, despite the war raging on its borders with Syria and an opposition that does have some teeth, is an emerging economy. Instead of looking to see what you can personally get out of whatever deals are signed, how about copying the things the Turkish government is doing for its people? Garbage collected daily, metro running meticulously daily(kulibe ba kaponya), the list is endless.
This agriculture which ends at ZDA. We want agriculture which can extend to the Zambian Farmer. Not agriculture which will end at deal level or benefiting the Turkish farmer.