• The Agency is looking for an investor that can invest in E-commerce infrastructure to make sure that exporters keep interacting with importers.
• K14million has been spent to date on providing forward and backward linkages to Micro Small Medium Enterprises.
• The company has invested over US$12 million in fiber optic and information communication technology services in the last seven years.

Zambia Development Agency has urged Lusaka Telecom Solutions (LTS) to consider investing in Electronic (E) – Commerce platforms to facilitate export of goods and services to the region and the international markets.

ZDA Acting Director General Albert Halwampa said Zambia has vast opportunities for E- Commerce especially in the wake of Covid 19 pandemic which has disrupted supply chains worldwide further pointing out that a reliable online platform to connect the buyers and sellers is all that is needed.

“The Agency is looking for an investor that can invest in E-commerce infrastructure to make sure that exporters keep interacting with importers in other countries to clinch as well as seal export Deals,” he said.

Mr. Halwampa further expressed gratitude upon learning that LTS has started reaping fruits from the Congo Trade Mission in Lubumbashi and the Intra-Africa Trade Fair in Durban South Africa in which ZDA facilitated participation for the company and other private sector players.

According to ZDA, “The LTS has commenced exports into the DRC as a result of participating in the ZDA Trade Mission to DRC in October 2021.”

The Acting Director General was speaking when he led a team of ZDA senior management on a tour of the LTS in Lusaka to appreciate their operations, challenges as well as available opportunities for Zambian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), where it was disclosed by LTS that a total of K14million has been spent to date on providing forward and backward linkages to Micro Small Medium Enterprises.

Further, LTS Business Development Manager Mohamed Abd El-razek disclosed that that the company has invested over US$12 million in fiber optic and information communication technology (ICT) services in the last seven years.

Mr. El-razek said the company has three business lines namely fiber optic solutions, microwave, ICT and wireless solutions and infrastructure and power solutions.

He also stated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, telecommunication services have become important for people to continue transacting and running their day to business.

“Currently, we have over 200 employees and plan to increase to 900 by March and by close of this year we expect to have over 1,000 employees, ”he said.