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We'll use Victoria Falls to develop Zambia - Sata

We'll use Victoria Falls to develop Zambia - Sata
By Joan Chirwa-Ngoma in Seoul, South Korea
Thu 18 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT

GOD in His own wisdom gave Zambia the Victoria Falls which we have to use to develop the country, said President Sata amid applause from delegates of the third Korea-Africa Forum being held at Seoul's Grand Hyatt Hotel.

President Sata, in his meetings with business executives and government officials, has ridden on Zambia's vast natural resources and abundant land to attract Korean investors whose country has made great strides in economic development.

"I am extending an invitation to businessmen and everyone in here to come to Zambia. God in His own wisdom gave us the Victoria Falls and He gave us land…They have already been given to Zambia and they won't be taken away," he said when delivering a keynote speech to the third Korea-Africa Forum yesterday.
President Sata said South Korea was a very poor country 48 years ago and that Zambia could learn from its economic achievements.

"…Korea was undeveloped. We have to learn from them…We have admired strides and progress made by Korea to transform its economy from a less developed country in the 1960s to its current status today amongst the leading economies of the world," he said, adding, "Korea now stands as a role model for developing countries.

I know that the achievement did not come by chance but through hard work, commitment, sacrifice, government support and deliberate measures."

President Sata said Zambia has a wide spectrum of minerals, abundant energy resources and proven potential for oil and gas.

"We also have abundant fertile land for agriculture. I wish to take advantage of this platform to invite Korean businessmen to invest in Zambia's mining, energy and agriculture sectors. Zambia could become Korea's partner in mineral exploration. In turn, Korea could transfer state of the art technology to Zambia," he said.

Another important international issue, according to President Sata, is the ongoing debate regarding the call for reform of the United Nations.

"The African continent is of the firm belief that the reform of the United Nations and its structures is crucial in ensuring fair representation, accountability, transparency and effectiveness," he said, underscoring Zambia's desire to use South Korea to ensure that African concerns are adequately addressed in the G20 summit.

"We continue to urge all our co-operating partners, including Korea, to support the Ezulwini Consensus for greater African representation in the United Nations system."

President Sata also called on African countries and Korea to explore ways of mitigating risks and uncertainties on African markets by providing incentives to Korean companies to invest in Africa.

Before addressing the forum, President Sata met Korea's Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik where he asked that Korean Air introduces direct flights between Lusaka and Seoul.

"We also have the land…we can give land to your investors to invest in Zambia. What we need is development," President Sata told Prime Minister Kim before officially opening the Korea-Africa forum. He later held private bilateral talks with Korea's President Lee Myung-Bak.
African Union Commission deputy chairperson Erastus Mwencha said Africa is aware that global and mutual challenges call for global and mutual solutions.

"…Africa currently faces serious food shortages yet the continent is capable of producing for itself adequate food," said Mwencha. "We are therefore here to consolidate the foundation laid down in 2006 between AU and Korea. Korea has developed through hard work, technology transfer and infrastructure development."

Labels: MICHAEL SATA, TOURISM, VICTORIA FALLS

posted by MrK @ 7:40 PM