CB Expo to actualise $4bn investment

GOVERNMENT expects to realise in excess of $4 billion worth of investment after the successful hosting of the Copperbelt Investment Exposition, Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe has said.

Mr Mwakalombe has since encouraged the local people to venture into manufacturing of products from raw materials such as timber as opposed to importing processed goods such as school desks.

He was speaking during a PF Interactive Forum held at Protea Hotel in Ndola.

Mr Mwakalombe said the Copperbelt was not only the home for copper but also had a lot other minerals.

The minister said that President Edgar Lungu had been frequenting the province in line with Government’s vision of diversifying the Copperbelt economy.

Mr Mwakalombe observed that the dependence on copper had a negative effect on the economy and the people of the province in the recent past.

“The President has continued to preach diversification to other sectors such agriculture, tourism and forestry among others,” he said.

Mr Mwakalombe emphasised the importance of industrialisation, noting that it brought about economic stability and job creation.

He added that the

provincial office had been engaging the Copperbelt based traditional leaders in ensuring the equal delivery of development.

“This Copperbelt Expo has seen the participation of all the 10 districts, giving an opportunity to prospective investors to see and choose the investment destinations,” he said.

The Minister said the construction of the Copperbelt International Airport would help boost economy as it would increase the number of tourists. At the same function, PF Copperbelt Chairman, Nathan Chanda, expressed happiness with the actualisation of the party manifesto which has a vision of making Zambia a better country.

Mr Chanda said the hosting of the Expo would help the PF Government achieve goals through massive investments that would be coming through.

“This is what we have been talking about.

We are happy with the implementation of the

diversification policy. This is what President Lungu has promoted especially here on the Copperbelt which is in his heart,” Mr Chanda said.

He said the ruling party would continue creating a conductive business atmosphere to ensure that a number of investors came on board.

He therefore called for coexistence between the party and Government to ensure that development was delivered to the people of Zambia. Mr Chanda noted that despite the opposition efforts to paint the country black, investors had continued to show confidence in President Lungu’s leadership

Mr Chanda, who is also Luanshya Mayor, said the Copperbelt expo had been successfully hosted, shaming the people that thought it would fail.

“Doomsayers are ashamed with the successful hosting of the Copperbelt Investment Expo. They wished that it fails, but look where we are today.” he said.