Service sector key to growth - report
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU THE Agricultural and Commercial Show for this year in Lusaka will focus on promoting crop diversification.
This is according to the Agricultural and Commercial Show Society president, Caroline Silwamba.
Ms Silwamba said the aim was to mitigate the challenges experienced in the agriculture sector following the poor rainfall pattern.
She said Zambia was faced with a challenge in agriculture as evidenced by poor rainfall experienced during the last farming season.
It was for this reason, that the society would this year focus on providing information on crop diversification through various platforms such as seminars.
This year’s Agricultural and Commercial Show will run from 31st July to 5th August.
Ms Silwamba said this during a media workshop in Lusaka.
This year’s ACSZ media workshop for Zambian journalists was held under the theme “Embracing Industry Development: the role of media”
“The show society gather experts and farmers to best address the issue of crop diversification in the country and the media is encouraged to play a vital role in educating the citizenry on the immense benefits of embracing industrial development in Agriculture and commercial sectors,” she said.
Ms Silwamba has since encouraged the media to take keen interest and actively participate in the show.
“The workshop was conceptualised in the year 2016 as a platform for journalists to have robust interaction, exchange ideas, and engage well with the show society in order to enhance their overall professional competence.
“The media can help promote and project what experts present.
At this juncture, I wish to express my profound gratitude to you the media who have identified with us and supported our vision for a better show society, through proactive and responsible journalism,” she said.
THE services sector is key in promoting sustainable growth and development in Zambia, national trade policy report said.
According to the report, improving quality and lowering costs of services could greatly enhance the competitiveness of the local industry.
The report said that the objective was to promote the development of a vibrant services sector for both the local and export markets.
Measures put in place to ensure this, according to the report, included enhancing the domestic services sector regulatory framework and develop a national database on trade in services.
“The other measurement is to support the development of vibrant creative industries and support capacity building initiatives for sector coordination,” the report said.
According to the report, it would be prudent to enhance stakeholder awareness on the opportunities in trade in services and harmonise national commitments at the multilateral and regional levels.
Meanwhile, the report revealed that multilateral trade agreements were important as they reduced tariffs and made it easier for businesses to import and export.
“This makes it beneficial for all nations involved. However, negotiations at multilateral levels are complex and policy space to negotiate flexible rules continues to narrow as countries demand more obligations from all participating countries,” the report said.