Maravi

Envoy urges Zambia, China to increase trade linkages

Envoy urges Zambia, China to increase trade linkages
By Joan Chirwa
Thursday May 01, 2008 [04:00]

ZAMBIAN businesses should take advantage of the growing demand for commodities in China to increase trade between the two countries despite Western propaganda on Chinese products, economic and commercial counsellor at the Chinese Embassy Zhang Shudong has said. In an interview after the launch of Chinese vehicles on the Zambian market to be distributed by Guardian Motors, Zhang said Zambia still had the potential to export a lot of products to China despite its limited manufacturing base.

“The two countries have enjoyed good trade relations over the years. China is a big market and Zambians can utilise the potential to export as much as it can to China,” Zhang said. “China’s population is in excess of 1.3 billion and it is the largest market in the world and exploiting this market could assist Zambia in its quest for economic development.”

Zhang said Zambia and China should work towards increasing trade linkages for the benefit of the two governments.

“Although some businesses could have difficulties to export to China because of lack of value addition as a result of the weak manufacturing base in Zambia, a lot more products can be exported, for example sugar, tobacco, coffee and copper,” Zhang said.

“The two countries can increase their trade relations despite propaganda by the Western media portraying Chinese products as sub-standard.

Although this is being said, China has been exporting a lot of products to Europe and the US. For example, trade between US and China last year was in excess of US $200 billion and US $300 billion and I don’t believe sub-standard products can manage to get to the US.”

And Guardian Motors Limited has entered into an agreement with Great Wall Motor Company of China where the former will be distributing Chinese manufactured cars on the local market.

Great Wall vehicles are already being sold in Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia. The company produces about 400,000 units annually, and exports one third of its total production to over 100 countries.

“These are multi-purpose vehicles that are already in use in many countries in Africa,” said Lishomwa Lishomwa, Guardian Motors chairman and chief executive officer. “These are high grade vehicles, and it is not true that Chinese products are not good.

Most of us have Chinese household goods manufactured in China and we are not complaining. What Zambia should do is take advantage of the Chinese technology to develop the local market.”

Labels: CHINA, TRADE, ZHANG SHUDONG

posted by MrK @ 6:13 AM