Maravi

Govt to create more economic zones, reveals Chilipamushi

Govt to create more economic zones, reveals Chilipamushi
By Joan Chirwa
Saturday February 24, 2007 [02:00]

GOVERNMENT will create more economic zones even for investors from Taiwan if it receives enquiries from that country, commerce permanent secretary Davidson Chilipamushi has said. During a private sector discussion meeting organised by the Economics Association of Zambia held last Tuesday, Chilipamushi said government had created the economic zones, the concept also included in the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), as an engine for job creation.

“Government has created the economic zones and this concept has been included in the ZDA,” Chilipamushi said. “We have one in Chambishi which has been given to Chinese investors and we are designing one in Lusaka which will be established by Malaysian investors. Government will create more of these economic zones once it gets enquiries from investors from other countries, including those from Taiwan.”

Chilipamushi said government had already received an enquiry from an investor who wanted to turn the Ndola Refinery into a gemstone industry.

“Economic zones are able to attract sustainable development in the country if they are given enough attention. The private sector must also take this whole programme with a clear vision,” Chilipamushi said. “We cannot be looking at potential wealth without exploiting it. It is not government’s responsibility alone to create jobs, government’s duty is to create a good political and economic environment to encourage investments and job creation.”

Government, through the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry has created two economic zones, one in Chambishi and another in Lusaka, for Chinese and Malaysian investors respectively, as deliberate growth facilities aimed at creating jobs for Zambians.

Private Sector Development Association (PSDA) chairperson Yusuf Dodia hoped that Zambians would be involved in the development of the two economic zones while following the laid down procedures of the ZDA Act.

Dodia however said there must be a proper board and management of the ZDA before Chinese investors could start developing the Chambishi economic zones.

“We need to know how it is going to be done and not a situation where we will have Chinese investors doing things on their own,” said Dodia.
ZDA currently has an interim board in place and a provisional management, but government announced that the institution is now fully operational.

The creation of the agency is aimed at easing business operations in the country, where investors will be able to acquire investment licenses from one institution.

Labels: ECONOMIC ZONES

posted by MrK @ 5:23 PM