Make Zambia manufacturing hub, says analyst
By MAILESI BANDA GOVERNMENT needs to work towards making Zambia a manufacturing hub in sub-Sahara Africa, by encouraging private sector participation, through a good policy framework, Policy Monitoring and Research Centre, head research and analysis, Salim Kaunda has said.
Mr. Kaunda said there was need for the revamping of state-owned manufacturing factories like the Kafue and Mulungushi textiles to enhance the manufacturing industry.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr. Kaunda advised that while plans were under way to revamp the textiles industry, there was need for the government to put in place policy mechanisms that would favour private sector players that participated in the industry.
“The manufacturing industry remains key to the development of the Zambian economy and there is need for the government to create a conducive environment for the sector by formulating a favorable policy framework,” Mr. Kaunda said.
He also said there was need for the formulation of more strategies to increase local resource mobilization in order to develop the local manufacturing industry.
He said the small and medium sized entrepreneurs were key to the development of the manufacturing industry once given access to cheap finance.
“The SME sector is key to the development of the economy there should be mechanisms by the ministry of Finance to promote access to finance by this sector that has a positive bearing on the economy of the country,” Mr. Kaunda said.
He advised the government to empower the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry ZACCI in order to assist existing manufactures and promote them to produce more products.
Mr. Kaunda stressed the need to embrace quality and allow their products be competitive on the export market. He said supporting the manufacturing sector will be a starting point in the support of the local content campaign which supports the sourcing of products locally.