Saudi goats deal near fruition

THE goat export deal with Saudi Arabia will now be finalised with the coming of a 12-man delegation from that country to discuss final modalities, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Permanent Secretary Benson Mwenya has said.

Dr Mwenya said he was today scheduled to meet the Saudi ambassador to Zambia to finalise arrangements for the vising team.

He was optimistic that the goat export deal with Saudi Arabia which was initiated in 2016 would now be actualised.

Dr Mwenya said a delegation of 12 businessmen from Saudi Arabia who were expected in the country in the second week of December last year were still coming.

“Tomorrow (today) we will be meeting the ambassador from Saudi Arabia to finalise the arrengements for the visiting team. A delegation of 12 plus businessmen from Saudi Arabia are expected in the country soon, they are still coming,” he said.

Government announced that Zambiawas capable of meeting the 1 million goats per annum supply requested by Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry of Livestock indicated that the country had more than 4 million healthy goats.

The delegation from Saudi Arabia would be in Zambia to assess the quality of goats in the country and seal the deal if they would be satisfied.

Government has put in several interventions to improve goat rearing and breeding in the country as while as set up a goats and sheep task team to coordinate all interventions to ensure that local goats met the required Saudi standards.