Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has officially opened this year’s 58th Zambia International trade fair (ZITF) in Ndola with a call for Zambia and Mozambique to enhance collaboration in many areas of cooperation.
Mr Nyusi says Mozambique will continue to strengthen its bilateral relations with Zambia in order to promote and unlock economic potential for the two countries to be able to better people’s livelihoods.
Speaking when he officially opened the 58th Zambia International trade fair, witnessed by his host President Hakainde Hichilema in Ndola today, Mr Nyusi said Mozambique’s participation in this year’s trade fair will promote investments in both countries.
Over the past four years Mozambique and Zambia have scaled-up both imports and exports to the excess of over $10 million United States dollars.
He stated that Mozambique has been exporting energy products to Zambia to enable it power the mining industry among other sectors in bid to unlock Zambia’s economic potential through collaboration.
‘ The bilateral relations that exist between his country and Zambian will further deepen exponentially following the various memoranda the two countries have signed during his two State visit to Zambia, ” he said.
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The visiting President expressed optimism that the current investment atmosphere between Zambia and Mozambique will translate in uplifting the two peoples livelihoods in line with the African Union’s aspirations to improve people’s lives by 2063.
Mr Nyusi has since invited Zambian business experts to explore business investment opportunities in Mozambique to further foster economic growth for the two countries.
And President Hakainde Hichilema thanked his Counterpart for accepting the invitation to grace this year’s 58th ZITF and reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to restore the Zambian economy to better people’s livelihoods.
He said barely under three years of being in Government, his administration has scored a number of successes in many areas of the economy such as education among others.
Mr Hichilema stated that his Government has managed to improve people’s lives through the provision of the free education policy, social security to transform the economic outlook in general.
“Mr President, let me thank you for accepting our invitation to come and grace the 58th ZITF which aspires to unlock Zambia’s economic potential through collaboration and partnerships,” he said.
The President observed that the mutual bilateral relations between Zambia and Mozambique should be fostered as the two countries have a lot to share especially in the agenda to improve the two economies.
Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga said that this year’s ZITF has attracted 90 local exhibitors and over 80 foreign exhibitors who include Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo among others.
Mr Mulenga reiterated the importance of Africa doing business as a unit to promote economic activities and improve the welfare of the people
And ZITF Chairperson Elizabeth Nkumbula commended the two Presidents for accepting to open the trade fair as it promotes competition and efficiency in the economy.
She said trade fair is vital as it spurs economic development as it brings on board various and diverse stakeholders and captains of industries on the single platform to share business expertise.
The ZITF Trust has managed to host the fair through electronic ticketing which has promoted efficiency and accountability in the gate collections.
Earlier, President Hichilema and his counterpart toured selected stands to appreciate the extent of the exhibitions which included first quantum mine, the international hall and the Zambia Correctional Service among others.
The 58th ZITF has been held under the theme “unlocking economic potential through collaboration and partnerships.
