The Public Policy Institute of Zambia (PPIZ) has encouraged the government to take advantage of the pickup in copper prices on the international market to raise revenue.

According to Reuters the price of copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) traded at US$6,118 a tonne on Friday.

In an interview with Money FM News, Institute President Fabian Chewe says the prices of copper on the international market are signaling increase and hence the need to take advantage of this trend.

Mr. Chewe has also observed the need for Zambia to have a strong inspectorate system in order to seal the loopholes that lead to linkages in production figures.

He further recommends that the government should focus on agriculture industrialization as this is one of the potential sectors to grow the country’s economy.

“Africa imports about US$30 billion of agriculture products which we can take advantage of as country to supply these products within the region and earn something from that,” he suggests.

Mr. Chewe adds that if well enhanced, the sector has potential to boost Zambia’s economy and reduce the over dependency on copper.