Don't leave MFEZ to Zambians, Levy tells Chinese.
Don't leave MFEZ to Zambians, Levy tells Chinese.By Chibaula Silwamba
Wednesday February 27, 2008 [03:00]
DON’T leave Multi Facility Economic Zones (MFEZ) to Zambians because we don’t have adequate resources to make them successful, President Mwanawasa has urged a visiting Chinese business delegation. Addressing the delegation that paid a courtesy call on him at State House on Monday, President Mwanawasa said Zambian businessmen were very keen to participate in the trade zones.
“But I want to say at the outset that we don’t want you to leave them entirely to the Zambians.
We don’t have adequate resources to make these trade zones successful. We would hope that Chinese businessmen will come and invest in these trade zones and if they can go into partnership with Zambians that will be better,” he said. “
You have thanked us for the support which we have given you on the trade zones but in my view it should be the other way round because it’s you who has supported us. This is an initiative which you gave to Zambia and it’s a true symbol of true friendship.”
He urged the Chinese to continue investing in Zambia.
“We are used to receiving people here who come to sell products from their countries to us as consumers but the difference with your delegation is that you have come to see what items you can buy from Zambia whereby you are increasing our volume of trade in our favour,” he said. “We are very grateful for the development effort which you have given to Zambia and we do hope that this will continue.”
President Mwanawasa said he was glad that already the Chambishi MFEZ had created over 3,000 jobs.
“I do hope that sooner rather than later when the trade zone is fully operational, many more people will be employed,” President Mwanawasa.
He said he was happy that China had given Zambia a grant of US$6 million (about K22 billion) and a donation of US $200,000 (about K746 million) towards addressing the effects of floods.
“Feel free to take a sample of the rural areas, you visit the rural areas to see the real Zambia, to see challenges which we have to face, the challenges of poverty because what you see here in town is nothing compared to what we face in rural areas,” said President Mwanawasa.
Labels: CHINESE, FDI, MFEZ, MWANAWASA
posted by MrK @ 6:05 AM
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