Govt seeks marketers’ voice in policy matters

GOVERNMENT has challenged the Zambia Institute of Marketing (ZIM) to begin adding a voice to the policy direction of the country.

Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary, Mushuma Mulenga, said Government expected the ZIM to serve as a reservoir of fresh ideas and knowledge on marketing and related matters.

Mr Mulenga was speaking during the 24th annual marketing conference at Avani Hotel and Resort in Livingstone yesterday.

He said that this in order for the Institute to help Government fulfil the mandate of bettering the lives of the citizens adding that governing a country was a collective effort and all stakeholders must play their part.

He said Government had always practiced an open-door policy that encouraged technocrats to contribute to the governance of the country.

Mr Mulenga said the theme “fostering business recovery and prospecting market opportunities” was timely as the Covid-19 pandemic has devastated economies of the world and in some instances bringing business to a standstill.

He said the theme was also an assurance that indeed Government was not alone but that there were other concerned entities working towards easing the plight of economy from the effects of the pandemic.

And ZIM president Kenneth Sinkamba expressed gratitude that Government had taken a bold step by ratifying the African Continental Free Trade Area (afcfta).

Mr Sinkamba said that the decision would translate into broadening of the market for African players and Zambian industry players in particular.

He said that with the ratification of the trade policy, Government would now need to build capacity among the local industry and also take comparative advantage of Zambia’s strategic location.

Mr Sinkamba said that the trade policy was also a wake-up call to Zambians to ensure that the standards commensurate with other advanced economies globally and compete favourably.