The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) says it will use the Northern Province Investment Forum and Expo to facilitate partnerships and joint ventures.
The Agency, with the mandate of promoting Zambia’s economic growth and development, says it is looking forward to the Northern Province Investment Forum and Expo slated for 19th to 25th November in Kasama.
ZDA Public Relations Officer Russel Haamubbi says the Investment Forum and Expo is an opportunity for the agency to create linkages both forward and backward linkages between the big investors and the local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in various sectors of the economy.
He says sectors include agriculture and agro processing, tourism, infrastructure development and energy sectors among others.
“With a multifaceted mandate of promoting investments, trade and enterprise development, the Agency is looking forward to the Investment Forum and Expo so as to interact with various private sector players, both local and foreign investors and small enterprises in various sectors to foster and facilitate business synergies,” he said.
Mr. Haamubbi said ZDA’s focus at the Northern Province Investment Forum and Expo is on partnerships and joint ventures between local businesses and foreign as a conduit for technological transfer, access to cheaper funds and access to export markets.
“The Agency wants to attract investments and stimulate entrepreneurship among the local Zambians in the rural areas of the country so as to create jobs and reduce poverty levels,” said Mr. Haamubbi.
He added that the Agency will also provide information on market access for various nontraditional export products in foreign markets using platforms such as the Common Market for Southern and Eastern Africa (COMESA), Southern Africa Development Community SADC, the European Union and the American markets through African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Mr. Haamubbi stated that on the sidelines of the Forum and Expo, the Agency with the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry with other Statutory Bodies under the auspices of the Ministry will be conducting business clinics meant at helping local enterprises to formalize their businesses and many other business development services aimed at building capacity of the local enterprises.
“The business development services will include the provision of market information, product development, facilitation to access to finance, business linkages and facilitation of possible joint ventures between local and foreign partners,” he added.