TILE FIRM TO EARN US$3M FROM EXPORTS

OVER

US$3 million is expected to be realised on a monthly basis from the exportation of Zambia’s porcelain and glazed tiles produced by Marcopolo Tile Manufacturing Limited.

Company Board chairperson, Chief Chikwanda, said the tiles were on demand in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Tanzania, Nambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola and South Africa.

Chief Chikwanda explained that the company anticipated to realise over US$3 million from the export volumes for porcelain and glazed tiles per month.

He said the current production plan was aimed at supplying 40 percent local market and 60 percent to neighbouring countries.

Mr Chikwanda said this during the tour of the plant in Lusaka recently.

“The company’s marketing

production strategy is aimed at shifting the country status of being an importer to becoming an exporter and thereby contributing to the much-needed FOREX which ultimately contributes to stabilising the foreign exchange rates as well as the general economic outlook,” he said.

The chief, however, complained that despite the enabling and conducive investment environment created by Government, there where trade impediments that hindered the company to expand further.

He said these impediments hindered not only the realisation of the strategic goal but also denying the country the much- need foreign exchange.

“This impediment affects our entire group, other than tiles we have in the wonderful group other manufacturing companies producing PVC celling and products, polypylene grain bags, tile fix and industrial lime.

“We have confirmed export orders within the region for grain bags which if export bottlenecks were eliminated can result in a monthly export volumes in excess of US$ 1.4 million,” he said.

Chief Chikwanda said the company faced unwarranted and unfair export procedural bottlenecks arising from certification delays for instance the Bureau Veritus (BV).

He said the normal circumstances which should take 48 hours, took over three months.

“To this effect we implore Government to intervene and facilitate for a speedy and reasonable export procedural periods,” Chief Chikwanda said.