Solwezi remains Stanbic bank’s integral part

STANBIC Bank Zambia says Solwezi remains an integral part of its focus.

Bank Chief Executive Officer Ngandwe Siakalima says this is because of the various pronouncements of the investments that will be made into North Western province.

Mr Siakalima states that the bank wants to play an active role in helping to accelerate economic integration within the region because it believes in the potential to develop the region into an economic hub that will facilitate regional trade with neighbouring countries.

“With over US USD2 billion worth of financing made available to the mining sector in Zambia, we have the undisputed deep-country and mining insights for the region,” said Mr Siakalima.

He was speaking during the opening of the bank’s refurbished Solwezi branch.

He also said as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the Bank has continued to change lives by training citizens to provide the best financial education to other sectors of the community, thereby, instilling a savings culture to help them be more financially independent. He said as a firm advocate of financial literacy, the bank continues to embark on financial literacy training and sensitisation workshops to train vulnerable groups within our society. “In this regard, we have intensified our Anakazi Banking financial solutions to the market, covering both the high-end and lower segments,” he added.

And North Western province minister Robert Lihefu who graced the event said expressed confidence that the opening of the branch will promote private investment, growth and job creation to boost the local economy.

He pointed out the need for a re-energised and sustained effort in the promotion of financial literacy with an increased emphasis on children and the youth so that the country can attain its goal as espoused in the National Strategy on financial education to have a financially educated population by 2030. He also said government recognises a robust private sector growth particularly Small and Medium Enterprises which are the most powerful driver of job creation.

“And we will continue to harness the full potential of the youths and women by prioritising growth in the key productive sectors for economic transformation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Solwezi Mayor Remmy Kalepa called on more investors to invest the district.