FOREIGN Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Stanley Kakubo says the Zambian government recently opened a Diplomatic Consulate in Dubai which will soon be commissioned.
In a statement shared on his official Facebook Page, Monday, Kakubo also announced that the United Arab Emirates had given Zambia a free slot at the upcoming Dubai expo scheduled for January, 2022.
He was speaking when he met with UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheik Shakhboot Nahyan Al Hahyan.
“As you are all aware, the Republican President Mr Hakainde Hichilema left Lusaka last night for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. However, as Foreign Affairs Minister I travelled ahead of the Republican President and immediately got to work, my first meeting was with my counterpart, His Excellency Sheik Shakhboot Nahyan Al Hahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UPND Government is committed to further enhance relations with the United Arab Emirates through strategic partnerships in manufacturing, agriculture and mining,” Kakubo said.
“One of the key agreements in our meeting was that the UAE will give Zambia a slot free of charge at the upcoming Dubai expo scheduled for January, 2022. We will now proceed to quickly structure a programme for Zambian businesses to participate after processing through the Ministry of Commerce. We have also agreed to mutually design investment targets through the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Chambers of Commerce for trade and investments in Zambia.”
Kakubo said the consulate would be commissioned before the January 2022 Dubai expo.
“Further, Zambia recently opened a Diplomatic Consulate in Dubai which we will soon commission before the January, 2022 Dubai expo and we encouraged H.E Sheik Shakhboot Nahyan Al Hayan to reciprocate in Lusaka in order to enhance trade & economic relations between the two countries. We look forward to President Hakainde Hichilema’s arrival for scheduled meetings at the UN, White House, IMF and the World Bank among other key meetings,” stated Kakubo.
