VICE-PRESIDENT Mutale Nalumango says Western Province requires urgent and rapid transformation in order to turn around economic fortunes to support government’s developmental agenda.
And Vice-President Nalumango says Western Province’s endowment in land and water and its proximity to huge markets in Angola, Congo DR and Namibia makes the province an ideal location for investment in crop farming, livestock, fisheries sub-sectors as well as in renewable energy projects.
Speaking during the launch of the preparations for the Western Province tourism and investment expo under the theme “Rapid Economic Transformation through Increased Home-grown Entrepreneurship, Value Addition and Trade”, Vice-President Wina said Western Province had for a long time not had transformative programmes and investments at the scale that can make an impact among the people.
“The theme is indeed timely because Western Province requires urgent and rapid transformation in order to turnaround the economic fortunes to support the developmental agenda envisaged by the new dawn administration. While all parts of Zambia require developments, it is true that for a long time, Western Province has not had transformative programmes and investments at the scale that can make impact among the people. The statistics over the years paint a picture of urgency in terms of attracting massive investments in key sectors based on the endowments and resources that await exploitation through local, national and international investment initiatives. It is, therefore, clear that a call for economic transformation of Western Province would not have come at a better time than now, when his Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, has embarked on a relentless crusade to promote Zambia as the best destination for domestic and foreign direct investment from SADC, COMESA, continental and global investors,” she said.
Vice-President Nalumango noted that unlocking the economic potential of Western Province required large-scale and sustained investments in transport infrastructure.
She added that the commitment to developing the required regional trade infrastructure was also key to linking various ports in order to take advantage of the global trade opportunities.
“When we say that Zambia has potential to become the bread basket for Africa, Western Province is very strategic to this agenda. However, I am mindful that unlocking the economic potential of Western Province requires large-scale and sustained investments in transport infrastructure, which in turn, become part of a catalyst for positioning Zambia as a transport, trade, logistics and tourism hub in southern Africa. Internally, linking Western Province to North-Western, Copperbelt, Lusaka and Southern provinces also connects the rest of Zambia to strategic markets in Angola, Congo DR and Namibia as well as other regional and continental markets. In this regard, opening markets for Zambian food produce is now a priority with special focus on Angola, Congo DR and Namibia which will benefit Western Province and all the other provinces,” Vice-President Nalumango said.
“I say so because I am reliably informed that Angola is one of the top ten importers of poultry meat (chickens) in the world yet Zambia is not part of this chicken supply value chain, hence opening the market is critical to promoting large scale agribusiness value chains in the country. As government, I wish to state that the commitment to developing the required regional trade infrastructure is also key to linking various ports in order to take advantage of the global trade opportunities.”
And Vice-President Nalumango said Western Province’s endowment in land, water and soils and its proximity to huge markets in Angola, Congo DR and Namibia makes the province an ideal location for investment in crop farming, livestock, fisheries sub-sectors as well as in renewable energy projects.
“The drive to promote trade, tourism and investments align very well with the desire to unlock the huge potential based on natural and human resource that is key to shaping a new and promising agenda for prosperity in Western Province. The endowment in land, water, soils and long sunshine hours and the proximity to huge markets in Angola, Congo DR and Namibia makes the province an ideal location for investment in crop farming, livestock and fisheries sub-sectors as well as in renewable energy projects because these have great potential for ushering an economic “Tsunami” of development once all the necessary parts are put together, working closely with the central government. In this regard, I note the importance attached to this event and the strategic nature of the upcoming expo,” she said.
Vice-President Nalumango also commended the Barotse Royal Establishment for working closely with the provincial administration to co-host the expo in the province.
“Let me commend the Barotse Royal Establishment for working closely with the provincial administration to co-host the expo in the province. Therefore, there is need to give full support to the expo and ensure full participation of all stakeholders in the provinces and beyond our borders. I am happy to note that the unity exhibited so far, gives assurance to government that great results shall indeed come out of the expo. I invite the private sector players, big and small, to partner with the Western Province expo team to ensure a win-win situation so that a successful expo can bring the expected results,” said Vice-President Nalumango.
