Organizers of the Northern Province Investment Expo that will be held in November this year need about K18 million to successfully host the event.

And the organizers have so far raised about K3.5 million towards the hosting of the investment expo that will be held as a build-up event to the centenary commemorations to mark the end of the First World War slated for 25th November, 2018 in Mbala District.

Speaking during a breakfast meeting with stakeholders in Lusaka, Northern Province Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga said it is disheartening that about 55 percent of people living in the province are living in extreme poverty.

He laments that the province is endowed with natural resources if well managed can lead to the boosting of the economy.

He says the province has about 12 water falls that can help in boosting the tourism sector.

Mr. Kamanga says in preparing for the expo, the Kasama and Samora Marchel ZAF Airports have been rehabilitated to allow bigger planes to land in the province to boost trade and investment.

“The challenge we have had in the past was lack of marketing the province. We sit on natural resources and yet our people are living in extreme poverty, so we decided to hold the investment expo as a way to woe investors to invest in the province,” he said.

The Norther Province Permanent Secretary boasts that his province is the only province in Zambia with an inland port in Mpulungu that has access to the great lakes region making it easy and possible for trade.

Speaking at the same meeting, Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Patrick Kangwa says the expo gives Zambia an opportunity to improve investment opportunities in tourism and agriculture as well as improve decentralization.

Mr. Kangwa says the expo further provides an opportunity for the province to drive its own agenda of economic development, job creation and diversification.

During the same meeting, ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Pius Kasolo, Bank of Zambia Deputy Governor Dr. Bwalya Ng’andu and Magic Advertising Group Chairman Ravi Devalia donated K10, 000 each towards the hosting of the expo.