‘Education key to industrial growth’

THE Education sub sector has remained an important catalyst in the industrialisation process due to its position to facilitate growth and strong linkages to the manufacturing sector, Commerce, Trade and Industry, Permanent Secretary Kayula Siame has said.

Ms Siame said adequate skilled manpower and high labour productivity were critical to industrial development and competitiveness.

She said this in a speech read by the ministry’s director for industry, John Mulongoti, at the launch of Association of Business Executive (ABE) themed “How to boost Employee Engagement and Productivity with international credentials.”

Ms Siame said education provided opportunities for growth and poverty reduction and human development, hence the ministry was pleased to identify itself with progressive initiatives such as ABE. “The ABE contributes to addressing not only skills shortages that exist but also contributes to the provision of skills that respond to the dynamic industry skill needs.

“It is gratifying to note that this platform will provide vocational business qualification that ensures not just success in the work place in a variety of discipline but also the ability to self-employ and become entrepreneur,” she said. Ms Siame commended the ABE team for offering vocational qualification which helped young entrepreneurs to start, grow and run their own business.

With the right skills, she said, businesses became more competitive and organisation more effective for the economy to grow faster.

And ABE director of business development and deputy chief executive, Steven Smith, said the biggest problem that held emerging economies backwards was the skills gap

Mr Smith said ABE played an important role in supporting Governments and other stakeholders around the world to develop skills.

“Upgrading skills to international standards is the key to help countries like Zambia reach its goals in the next five to 10 years with an increase in Gross Domestic Product.

“If the skills within Zambia are at international level then business in both private and public sector will more easily connect to markets,” he said.