12 ZAMBIAN FIRMS HEAD FOR CHINA EXPO

THE Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) is facilitating for 12 Zambian companies to market their products at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) next month, ZDA Manager Communications and Public Relations, Faith Musonda has said

The expo is scheduled for Shanghai from 5th to 10th November, this year.

Ms Musonda said the Zambian companies would be given market access to over 3,600 firms around the world with intended trading volume of $ 57.83 billion as per last year’s event.

“This Expo is among the top 10 business forums in the world, showcasing the greatest innovation in the history of International trade.

“This annual event further opens up trading and export opportunities for the Zambian companies to the Chinese trading market valued US$ 2.2 trillion as at end 2017,” she said.

Ms Musonda said during last year’s CIIE, ZDA facilitated six companies which showcased their products, generating sales contracts worth $ 92 million.

This year, Ms Musonda said, the number had doubled to 12 companies, mostly

SMEs dealing in handicrafts, gemstones, animal products and agro-processing subsectors.

“The companies are Osumbo General Dealers, Little Walk Enterprises, Ginuwine General Dealers, Cowrays Enterprises and Barlogems Limited. Their product lines include gemstones, wooden and copper crafts, malachite jewellery and crafts as well as textile products,” she said.

She said others were Daisy Meats Limited, Dytech Zambia, Kakanga Food Suppliers, Miombo Honey Processing,

Zambia Moringa Wonder Plus, Gramiraj Investments and Ecobee African Natural Products.

And ZDA acting Director General, Matongo Matamwandi said that his organisation was targeting to generate a higher value of sales contracts out of this year’s Expo.

This, he said, was based on the doubled number of local companies participating with their unique, diversified and competitive products being marketed.

He said Zambia had been conferred as Guest Country of Honour at the CIIE and Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Christopher Yaluma would lead the Zambian delegation.

He said other benefits were creating partnerships and joint ventures with investors, negotiation of deals and sales contracts through business to business meetings and match making.

Mr Matamwandi said alongside the CIIE would be the second Hongqiao International Economic Forum which aims at building a high-end dialogue platform.

“ZDA will be working with representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to ensure maximum trade benefit and networking for Zambia during the Expo,” he said.