BRAZILIAN COTTON EXPERTS IN ZAMBIA FOR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

A DELEGATION of Experts from the Brazilian Coorporation Agency is in Zambia to explore opportunities for collaboration in the cotton industry.

The visit was part of a process of on boarding Zambia for possible south to south cooperation between the two countries.

Brazil at the request of the Zambian government through the Cotton Board requested the Brazilian agency for international cooperation ABC through a concept note on cotton industry possible areas of cooperation.

Some areas of possible cooperation include among others, extension provision, research funding, pest management and production of field guides.

The main objective of the technical mission was to gather relevant and detailed information about the cotton sector, with a view to providing solution to boosting farming of the cash crop in Zambia.

And Cotton Board of Zambia, chairperson, Raymond Mpundu said the board wants Brazil to help Zambia improve cotton productivity.

Mr. Mpundu was confident that Brazil's involvement, being the second largest exporter in the market and fourth-largest cotton producer, will improve the industry in Zambia.

Meanwhile, Eden Martingo, the Second Secretary for Western and Southern Africa Division of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Zambia's cotton industry has the potential to grow.

Mr. Martingo said Zambia should begin to identify certain technical challenges hindering the growth of the sector.

In August 2022, the Cotton Board of Zambia participated in the l3th Brazilian Cotton Congress, held in Salvador, Brazil. After the congress Zambia expressed interest in joining the Brazilian South-South technical cooperation program for the cotton sector, through a bilateral project for the benefit of the country. Brazil is world's second largest exporter and fourth largest producer of cotton.