Involve private sector in Zambia -Japan bilateral ties - Lungu

By NATION REPORTER THERE is need to scale up bilateral relations between the private sector in Zambia and Japan, President Edgar Lungu has said.

President Lungu said Japan and Zambia had enjoyed cordial bilateral relations for a long time though there had been no input of the private sector.

He was delighted that the relationship between the two countries was changing to involve, public- private partnerships which would have a bigger impact on the country’s economy.

Mr Lungu said this when the Japanese Public and Private Joint Mission for promoting trade and investment in Africa paid a courtesy call on him at State House yesterday.

He said there were many investment opportunities that Zambia and Japan could work on through the public-private partnership.

Mr Lungu said Zambia and Japan shared the need to reform the United Nations Security Council to enable larger participation.

“There are so many opportunities for investment in Zambia that the two countries could take advantage of through public-private partnership,” President Lungu said.

And Japan’s Parliamentary vice minister for foreign affairs Manabu Horii said Japan was keen to invest in various economic sectors of Zambia.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Horii said there was need for further cooperation to enhance the relations between the two countries.

“Japan has interest in investing in Zambia because of her political stability and abundant resources.

We hope that we will further expand interactions between the private sectors of Japan and Zambia,” Mr Horii said.

Meanwhile, regional chief executive officer for Africa Takashi Yao said the trip was a public and private sector joint mission aimed at promoting trade and investment in Zambia.

The Japanese team comprised of 30 business executives, Government and the officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Japan External Trade Organisation respectively.