LuSE, UNILUS seal deal

THE Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Lusaka (UNILUS) on the provision of technical expertise and information to the public.

Higher Education Permanent Secretary Kayula Siame noted that SMES missed information and the MOU would help provide vital and applicable Information.

She said the integrated and holistic approach would be providing the skills, information, research and indeed tools that would come out of the process, to achieve and sustain the goals.

Ms Siame said the partnership would go a long way to supporting SMES, through the technical assistance that would help them acquire important information and appreciate the need and necessity of being part of LuSE and UNILUS collaboration.

She urged entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunity, as she commended the two institutions providing such opportunities for government support.

And UNILUS Vice Chancellor Professor Pinalo Chifwanakeni said the collaboration through the MoU signed covers a number of common areas of interest between the two entities, with the purpose being provision of technical expertise and information pertaining to raising of funds.

This, she said, would be through the capital markets information on listed companies for research and development, provision of financial literacy training to start-ups, small and medium enterprises and provision of staff development.

He believed under the MoU the University of Lusaka would provide research and consultancy services to LuSE, training of entrepreneurs, facilitate access to financing for SMES and develop tailor made staff development programs to equip business and information flow through rigorous training and bridge the gap between business ideas and commercialization.

Meanwhile Lusaka Securities Exchange Plc CEO Priscilla Sampa said the education sector was a fundamental prerequisite in accelerating Zambia's national development and economic growth.

Ms Sampa said it was for that reason LuSE viewed education as the main conduit of ensuring the Zambian population had knowledge of capital markets.