ENVOY URGES ZAMBIA, DRC TO BOOST TRADE TIES

ZAMBIA and Democrat ic Republic of Congo (DRC) must take advantage of the proximity in market for various products that can be sold between the two countries.

Felix Siame, the Consul General in Lubumbashi, implored the business sector in both countries to maximise business opportunities.

He was speaking during a luncheon hosted by Katanga Province Governor Jack Kyabula Kitwa at his home for the delegation of business houses from Zambia which is on a two-day trade mission.

Mr Siame stated that there were various products and services that could be traded between the two countries.

He said business opportunities should be exploited to the fullest for the benefit of both countries.

"That is why this trade mission was facilitated to allow companies from both countries to exchange notes on how they can go about business in either of the two countries," he said.

Mr Siame said that last week, the ministers of Commerce Trade and Industry of Zambia and DRC met in Ndola to look at the trade agreements between the two countries that were signed in 2012.

"And all this is being done to enhance formalise trade between the two countries," he said.

And Mr Kitwa, applauded the two heads of state of both Zambia and DRC for the efforts they are making in ensuring that the people in both countries were living in harmony.

Mr Kitwa said Katanga province has potential in agriculture but that it has not been fully exploited.

He said that most of the people have concentrated much in the mining sector thereby rendering agriculture almost irrelevant.

He stated that as long as agro processing companies are not set up in Katanga province, they will continue knocking on the Zambian doors for agro products.

Katanga province Chamber of Commerce president Eric Monga Mumba said the business sector in the province was ready to partner with the Zambian entrepreneurs in various sectors of the economy.

Earlier, North-Western Chamber of Commerce president Mukumbi Kafuta said the Zambian business sector was also ready to partner with their colleagues in Katanga and the entire DRC for the benefit of the two countries.