Lusaka Province Minister Japhen Mwakalombe says government will partner with Chinese investors to build sky scrapers in Zambia’s capital.

According to a statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambia Embassy in Ethiopia Inutu Mwanza, Mwakalombe said this at Bole International Airport when he was transiting from China where he attended the China-Zambia week with Vice-President Inonge Wina.

“Government also intends to partner with Chinese investors to upgrade old buildings in the central business district because most buildings in Lusaka are old and ancient. We therefore call upon those who own buildings to enter into partnerships with some Chinese investors who would develop sky scrapers in Lusaka,” Mwakalombe said.

He also said the two countries would partner to set up agro processing plants.

“Government will partner with the Chinese government in order to transform Lusaka Province into an Agro processing hub. The establishment of agro processing plants in Lusaka will help reduce wastage of agro products and Lusaka being an area with a lot of agro products, it will now have means of preserving agricultural foods after the processing plants are set up,” Mwakalombe said.

“Government actually plans to divide Lusaka province into industrial zones. This measure is meant to set up industrial parks specialized in manufacturing in order to grow the economy in the province. We believe that Lusaka needs an economic boost as it is the second biggest contributor to the country’s GDP after Copperbelt Province.”

Meanwhile Zambia Tourism Agency Felix Chaila, who was part of the entourage, said tourism was the catalyst for investment hence the need for the country’s tourism sector to be driven by the domestic market.

Chaila also disclosed that the Ministry of Tourism had plans of building hotels in tourist destinations in order to make accommodation affordable especially for local tourists.