Zambia has set its agenda for international cooperations on trade investment rather than excessive borrowing and soliciting for financial aid, Minister of Finance & National Planning Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane has said.
Earlier this morning, Dr Musokotwane received French Minister of Francophonie and International Partnerships Thani Mohamed Soilihi who paid a courtesy call on him at his office.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Musokotwane said the New Dawn government’s focus is to leverage from international relations through inviting investment into the country’s different and open sectors for mutual benefit.
“The core of our international cooperation now is that we are moving away from going around borrowing recklessly and begging for money, we are now in the mode of cooperation through trade investment,” Dr Musokotwane said.
The Minister said Zambia possess great potential in different sectors which the government has worked to make more convenient and attractive for investment.
“There a lot of opportunities in Zambia, whether it’s in mining, agriculture, services and the door is basically open to come and invest in our country on a win-win basis and for that we have made a lot of reforms for the environment of investment to be conducive,” he stated.
Furthermore, Dr Musokotwane expressed Zambia’s gratitude to France for playing a vital role in supporting the nation to successfully restructure its debt.
“I want to say that we have been most grateful about the fact French government, through the Paris Club office, was at the forefront of organizing this big process to restructure Zambia’s debt,” he said.
Meanwhile, French Minister of Francophonie and International Partnerships Thani Mohamed Soilihi reiterated that his nation continues to value the mutual cooperation which exists between the two countries.
