Avic hails State

AVIC International Project Engineering Company has praised Government for making a wise decision to implement the Lusaka 400 Urban Road Upgrading Project. Company representative Lei Yingqi says Avic has completed 90 percent of the project’s second phase, which is about 500 kilometres and worth US$600 million. Mr. Lei said this in Lusaka yesterday when he officiated at the company’s local staff professional skills competition aimed at improving employees’ zeal under the L400 (II) project. The contest was further aimed at encouraging the workers to improve their professional working skills and enhancing relations among them. “Avic International acts as a main contractor implementing the whole design and construction work. During the construction period we follow up the government’s instruction to create employment opportunities to the locals as much as we can. “So far the number of our local employees is around 1,500. We have also sub-contracted the works to around 50 local small and medium contractors. The technical knowhow, discipline and hardworking mentalities are being transferred to our fellow local mates. The high standards of the roads are the best answer to all the efforts Avic has made,” Mr. Lei said. He was happy to see local employees benefit from the project and the company’s skills transfer policy, adding that training and transferring skills to others is the workers’ social responsibility. He said Zambia and China have close cooperation in the talent training program, which has seen a number of beneficiaries have chance to study and train in China. “More Chinese engineers and technicians are sent to Africa to train the majority in different fields… there will be more chances and programs to be arranged and conducted in the talent training. Everyone should be part of the program.