Zambia assures Italian investors

By KAPALA CHISUNKA
ZAMBIA’s ambassador to Italy Frank Mutubila has assured Italian firms who invest in Zambia that they are investing in a country where political stability is guaranteed and private initiative facilitated.
Mr Mutubila said this during his visit to Reggio Emilia where he held a meeting with Deputy Mayor Ugo Ferrari and Councillor for Education and International Relations Iuna Sassi.
The visit to Reggio Emilia by Mr Mutubila was promoted by Reggio in the world, in collaboration with the Reggio Africa Table and the Ministry of foreign Affairs which informed the Zambian government about the special bond between Reggio and countries in southern Africa.
Mr Mutubila said Zambia’s economy which is growing at a rate of 7 percent has been enhanced by the policy of diversification of the economy, the promotion of agriculture, tourism, extraction of raw materials and the energy sectors.
Major projects in three key areas also approved include transport and telecommunications, construction and social services. Zambia was the 89th country to join in Expo 2015; the cluster selected by the country devoted to pulses, oilseeds and fruit.
Mr Mutubila and Mr Ferrari also expressed the desire of developing cooperation in various sectors and investment opportunities in Zambia by local businesses with education and infrastructure being priority sectors.
And Mr Ferrari pointed out, among other local potential the rich fabric of small and medium-sized enterprises, specialising in building and construction.
“As the domestic market is saturated and in difficulty, these firms specialised and rich in know-how on the side of planning, are strongly oriented to the international markets.
Invoking the presence of the Mediopadana station in Reggio, an already initiated cooperation with Mozambique in view of Expo 2015,” Mr Ferrari said.
Mr Mutubila was accompanied by economic counsellor, Trevor Sichombo and the secretary of agricultural cooperation, Kayoya Masuhwa.