Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji has announced that President Edgar Lungu is on Tuesday expected in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, where he is scheduled to attend the country’s Trade Fair and a high level business summit.

Malanji made this announcement at his office, Monday, saying President Lungu’s visit to Kenya was necessary as it would boost intra-COMESA regional trade.

“I just wish to inform you that the President is scheduled to leave for Nairobi, Kenya, tomorrow to go and attend the Sos 21 international trade fare and high level business summit which is intended to spur regional trade. Of course it is important that the President attends this high level business summit because Zambia is hosting the COMESA secretariat. So much as this trade expo is being held in Nairobi, it requires the necessary support that Zambia can give it considering the of course the COMESA secretariat here. As you may know, we are just coming from putting ink to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, however, that does not exclude in our trajectory the existing protocols that the region has assented to,” said Malanji.

“So COMESA still remains important to most of the member countries. And at this summit, this will be an opportunity to address issues of competitiveness of enterprises and enhancing regional trade, basically, we want to see how we can enhance programmes which are aimed at boosting the intra-COMESA regional trade. So the President flies back on Wednesday after having a bilateral [talks] with the host President which is scheduled for Wednesday. And from this, we want to see how best our people can also get the necessary networking programme that is scheduled for member states that will be traveling to Kenya.”