Finnish investors eye Zambia industry
FINNISH investors are currently looking for partnerships with Zambian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to put up projects in renewable energy, technology and waste management among others.
This is according to the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) director general, Perry Mapani.
Mr Mapani explained that over 60 Finnish investors had shown interest in investing in Zambia and creating partnerships in various projects.
He said financing institutions were willing to finance Finnish companies that were interested in partnering with Zambian small and medium enterprises.
“Finnpartnership, Nordic Investment Bank and Business with Impact (BEAM) are some of the financiers that are willing to finance joint ventures between Finnish and Zambian businesses,” Mr Mapani said.
Mr Mapani said the investors indicated their interest during the Zambia- Finland Business Forum held in Helsinki recently organised by ZDA in conjunction with the Finnish Embassy in Zambia.
He said the forum attracted 66 participants, including export companies, consortium companies, financiers and other actors with interests to do business in Zambia.
“Other investors that attended were interested in projects in the areas of waste management and renewable energy technology and other innovative and sustainable projects. The Agency hopes to see these interests transformed into actual projects in the near future,” he said.
Mr Mapani said ZDA was impressed with the response from the Finnish investors to investment and trade opportunities that were presented during forum.
And Mr Mapani said ZDA was working on formalising its working relationship with Business Finland an equivalent of ZDA by signing a memorandum of understanding.
He said ZDA would be identifying and engaging local SMEs with the view to ensuring successful partnerships with Finnish enterprises.