Maravi

Levy urges countries to address development, diversity

Levy urges countries to address development, diversity
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sunday April 27, 2008 [04:00]

PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa has said it is imperative that issues of economic development and diversity continue to be addressed for Zambia to become a prosperous middle-income nation it is striving to be. And President Mwanawasa he deliberately arranged that the Global Southern Africa Smart Partnership Dialogue (GSAID) 2008 in July coincides with the Zambia agricultural and commercial show so that Zambia could market itself to the visiting countries.

Launching the GSAID 2008 at Hotel InterContinental in Lusaka yesterday, President Mwanawasa said the GSAID, which Zambia will host for the first time between July 28th and 30th, 2008, was a good platform through which countries would share experiences and different perspectives of enhancing economic development. He said the dialogue would be a stepping stone for Zambia to enhance its efforts to become a middle-income country by 2030.

“This dialogue occurs under the auspices of the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management Limited (CPTM) that was launched at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting held in New Zealand in November 1995.

One of its principle objectives is to promote a cooperative global approach to the harnessing of technology for development through public and private sector partnerships,” President Mwanawasa explained. “Smart partnership dialogues are platforms where participants discuss various issues related in particular to development.”

He said dialogues focused on finding solutions and measures for achieving sustainable economic development. President Mwanawasa said the over 400 participants expected to attend the GSAID in Zambia would be drawn from Commonwealth, the SADC region and beyond.

“You will note that the dialogue will be held concurrently with this year’s Zambia agriculture and commercial show. On 31st July, 2008, smart partners will dialogue with the show on the growth and diversity during a field trip. They will dialogue in grouped on several topics and thereby create links through Smart Partnership,” President Mwanawasa said.

“The presence of smart partners at the show will enhance business opportunities for the local and international show exhibitors. I urge the show management and exhibitors to begin now to prepare to take advantage of the opportunities provided by having the dialogue in Zambia.”

Smart Partnership was launched in New Zealand in 1995 during the Commonwealth heads of government meeting. Smart Partnership is a concept that denotes connection between the governments and the private sector or connections between countries which are designed to create synergy. And commerce minister Felix Mutati said Smart Partnership dialogue enhanced development of mankind.

“The dialogue enables participants to interact in an informal atmosphere so that ideas can be exchanged freely. That is a key unique feature of the dialogue,” said Mutati. “The dialogue brings together presidents, prime ministers, ministers, leaders of labour movement, civil servants and business leaders and various other people working for a common goal.”

Labels: CPTM, DEVELOPMENT, GSAID, MWANAWASA

posted by MrK @ 6:28 PM