171 companies register for Central Expo as CEC donates K250,000

About 171 local and foreign companies have registered to exhibit at the forth coming Central Province Investment Forum and Expo to be held this month from the 8th to 13th. Provincial permanent secretary, Chanda Kabwe said of the 171 exhibitor companies, 116 are local while 55 are foreign. Speaking when he updated chiefs from the Central Province chiefs’ council chaired by Chief Mukonchi in his office shortly before receiving the donation from Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC), Mr Kabwe said the 55 foreign companies coming for the event are from the SADC region, Europe and Asia. Mr Kabwe said the companies have shown interest to invest in almost all the sectors of the economy among them agriculture, agro processing, tourism, energy and infrastructure development. "For us as a province your royal highnesses, this is a good number of companies and we are optimistic that they will invest in the province," said Mr Kabwe. He further said 79 local and foreign individuals have registered for the event with an interest to invest in the province with a big number of them being local. And the Copperbelt Energy Company (CEC) has donated K250,000 cheque towards successful hosting of the expo. CEC Head of government and investor relations, Sylvester Hibajene said the approach that government has taken of was critical to showcasing the endowment that the country has to offer. Speaking when he handed over the donation to Mr Kabwe, Mr Hibajene said Central province was endowed with resources that are waiting to be harnessed by both local and international companies. "The forthcoming Investment Forum and Expo is walking the talk of diversification which government is promoting," said Mr Hibajene. He has assured government of the company's support in developing the huge energy potential that the country has be it hydro, solar or wind among others. Speaking earlier, Chieftainess Muwezwa of Ithezi Tezhi district thanked CEC for donating towards the expo and said as traditional leaders in the province, they would support the event. Her royal highnesses who is the provincial chiefs’ council deputy secretary said they were geared to work with investors that would come to invest in the province. "We are ready to work with investors and partner with our subjects and partners in development, We are tied of rhetoric, what we need is action," said Chieftainess Muwezwa. And Chief Chitambo of Chitambo district has appealed to Zambians to support the event which he said was cardinal for diversifying the economy of the country. "Don't politicize this event. Let's diversify from copper to agriculture. And as traditional leaders will give you land for investment," said Chief Chitambo. Chief Mukonchi of Kapiri, Shaibila and Chitina of Mkushi, Chamuka of Chisamba, Chitambo of Chitambo and Chieftainess Muwezwa of Itezhi Tezhi witnessed the donation after being updated on the Expo by Mr Kabwe.