Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Japan anticipates robust economic growth on C/belt

Japan anticipates robust economic growth on C/belt
By Kabanda Chulu
Wed 06 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT

JAPANESE Ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura has said his country is committed to the establishment of up to 14 one-stop border posts (OSBPs) across a number of corridors in Africa in the next five years.

During an inspection of various Japanese-funded projects on the Copperbelt on Monday, Ambassador Mitamura said infrastructure was important to the economic development of Zambia since it would result in the enhancement of the quality of life for the people.

Ambassador Mitamura said the governments of Japan and Zambia had signed a grant aid project agreement for improvement and maintenance of Ndola and Kitwe city roads that would cost US $27 million.

He stated that the Japanese government regarded the Copperbelt as a major avenue of economic development of Zambia and through this contribution, Japan anticipated robust economic growth in the province whose benefits, with time, should spread to the entire country.

“The US $27 million constitutes the largest single grant aid provided by Japan to Zambia in 2009 but the Japanese government has also extended financial assistance to a number of other projects in Zambia and these include provision of a US $ 48 million loan for the implementation of the increased access to electricity project and the US $ 8.7 million for the project for improvement of Livingstone City Roads,” Ambassador Mitamura stated.

“And the contribution to the construction of the OSBP at Chirundu Bridge that was launched last month. This is in line with Japan's commitment to the establishment of up to 14 OSBP facilities across a number of corridors in Africa in the coming five years.”

Other projects which the Japanese government has implemented in Zambia include the extension and expansion of the Project for Participatory Village Development in Isolated Areas (PaViDIA) which has facilitated the empowerment of more than 130, 000 villagers at a cost of US $8 million and the US $5.5 million project for groundwater development in Luapula Province.

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Take up agriculture as a business, urges Chituwo

Take up agriculture as a business, urges Chituwo
Written by Florence Bupe
Thursday, September 17, 2009 12:14:07 AM

AGRICULTURE minister Dr Brian Chituwo has urged small-scale farmers to take up agriculture as a business despite the challenges currently being faced in the sector.

And Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura has pledged that country's continued support to the Zambian agricultural sector for sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation.

Speaking after a tour of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded project, the Participatory Village Development in Isolated Areas (PaViDIA) in Kalimansenga village in Chongwe district, Dr Chituwo said there was need for farmers to engage in farming for commercial purposes as opposed to subsistence farming alone.

“This project is an indication that small-scale farmers can take up farming as a business. It is encouraging to see farmers identify and tackle their needs in the agriculture sector,” he said.

Dr Chituwo observed that Zambia's agriculture sector was faced with various challenges, including climate change, the negative impact of the global economic crisis, as well as high food prices. He said these challenges could only be overcome through increased productivity and diversification. Dr Chituwo said the government was working at improving farmer support through various schemes.

“The ministry will continue to support farmers to diversify and increase productivity. We want to ensure that farmers access enhancement schemes for increased productivity in the next farming season,” said Dr Chituwo.

And Ambassador Mitamura said Japan would continue assisting Zambia in various agricultural projects. He said Zambia's rural agricultural projects could serve as a model for the region as there were a number of successes scored in the implementation of these programmes.

“With the achievements scored, there is no doubt that one day the project could serve as a model for African rural development, thereby laying a solid ground for the continent's economic development,” said Ambassador Mitamura.

Meanwhile, PaViDIA chairperson Jailos Silubanje said the funding from JICA had assisted in the implementation of various income-generating programmes.

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