ZAMBIAN GOVT ATTRACTS US$4.5 BILLION MINING INVESTMENT
KITWE (ZAMBIA), May 30 (NNN-ZANIS) -– Commerce Minister Felix Mutati has disclosed that the Zambian Government has so far attracted mining investment in excess of U$$4.5 billion.

And Mr. Mutati has predicted that the mining production will reach 1 million tonnes in the next two years.

Mr. Mutati said this investment has resulted in increased copper production of 750,000 tonnes per year from 250,000 tonnes.

He said the mining industry has brought a new decade in the country's economy where investment has consolidated the industry with new projects being undertaken by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), Lumwana, Milyashi and Kansanshi mines respectively.

Mr. Mutati was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kitwe on Saturday. This was shortly after touring selected stands at the ongoing 53rd Copperbelt Agriculture Mining and Commercial show (CAMCS) in Kitwe under the theme” 2010, a new decade renewed hope''.

He said it was encouraging to see a number of exhibitors rising from 75 to 100 this year, an indication that people have taken the diversification programme very serious as the theme translates.

The Minister also said the surplus food supply was stable for the country which entrepreneurs could take advantage of, if only they added value to their produce and exported it.

He nevertheless pointed out that there were challenges which could affect the expected economic growth in the mining sectors but was quick to note that Government was addressing the matter with the seriousness it deserved.

Mr. Mutati assured that once the challenges were addressed, there would be an increase in foreign direct investment with value addition to local products, supply of goods and quality jobs created among the locals.

He noted that the expansion of the mining activities in the country including the energy sector in its current form may not be able to cope up with the pressure and this called for more investment in the next five years.

The Minister outlined among other challenges as power shortfall which he said was likely to affect mineral production.

And he disclosed that Government was considering revamping the railway transport especially the opening of the Angola route on the western coast to cater for Lumwanma and Kasanshi mines.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=122025

^^thanks hakz for sharing :banana:

^^my pleasure :cheers:

Zambia to Sell First International Bond of $1 Billion
May 28 (Bloomberg) -- Zambia, Africa’s biggest copper producer, plans to sell its first international bond this year, raising $1 billion for rail and power projects, Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said in an interview with CNBC Africa.

The government expects to have its first sovereign credit rating by the third quarter and will proceed with the bond sale soon after that, Musokotwane said in Abidjan, the commercial capital of Ivory Coast.

Zambia abandoned a plan to seek a credit rating and sell a bond abroad in 2008 after the global financial crisis sparked a sell-off of emerging market assets. The southern African nation joins countries including Kenya, Ghana and Angola that want to tap international capital markets to help finance the building of power plants and railways as economic growth accelerates.

“We have issues with energy,” Musokotwane told CNBC. “There are a number of roads that have to be rehabilitated.”

The minister said he expects a credit rating of higher than B+, which was awarded by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings to Angola last week. B+ “should be the minimum,” Musokotwane said.

The minister signed an agreement with JP Morgan Chase & Co. today to help the government prepare for the credit rating. Zambia is working concurrently on the rating and the bond sale, he said.

Copper and Growth

The economy will probably expand more than 6 percent this year, boosted by higher copper prices and a bumper grain crop, Musokotwane said. Copper prices have more than doubled since the beginning of last year and reached as high as $6,935 a ton in London today, while the government expects a 42 percent surge in grain output this year.

Musokotwane said he wasn’t overly concerned that the European debt crisis would make it difficult for Zambia to sell its bond.

“You can never have a situation where the economic conditions are absolutely perfect,” the minister said in a separate interview with Bloomberg News. “With what’s happening now, it’s not too bad. There are other countries that are doing the same, so it’s not too bad.”

The kwacha has dropped 5.7 percent against the dollar since the beginning of this month and was trading as high as 5,090 per dollar today. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=ave741DhTsx0&pid=20601087

Malawi and Zambia are to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure grants in the next two years under the US government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) aid arm, US aid officials confirmed last month.

The MCC has committed $5.1bn to what MMC officials describe as 'compact' partners over the next five years. These countries are seen as being well enough governed to be eligible for grants. Tanzania, for example, has signed a five-year deal worth $698m, Ghana for $547m and Mozambique $507m.

Malawi and Zambia, both of which are opening their economies to trade and investment, were on track for promotion, allowing grants into the hundreds of millions of dollars. According to the MCC's senior procurement officer, Gerry Nash, Malawi will probably be signed up later this year and Zambia in 2011. "There is some major, major money coming out in the next five years," he added.

Although the MCC deals are government-to-government, private firms usually undertake the infrastructure development work after an open tender process. The World Bank says Africa needs to invest more than $90bn a year on improving its roads, railways and power grids.

Courtesy of allbusiness

Construction of a new $780-million power line linking Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya was expected to start towards the end of 2011, and be operational by 2015, a senior Zambian government official said on Friday.

About 1 447-km long, the high voltage transmission line will start at Serenje in the south of Zambia, snake along to Mbeya and Arusha in Tanzania before landing in Kenya's capital Nairobi.

"The total cost of the project is estimated at $780-million out of which $380-million will be [the] section in Zambia, $310-million in Tanzania and $90-million in Kenya," Israel Phiri, manager at the Office for Promoting Private Investment at Zambia's Ministry of Energy and Water Development told Reuters in response to emailed questions.

"It is hoped that resource mobilisation would be completed towards the end of 2011, and construction would commence thereafter," Phiri said, adding that the transmission line was expected to be completed three years later.

great :cheers:

oh this project is still on going ...and no this is not a final render each but any idea of the scale development .....we've been havin various issues bt all i can say is watch this space we're clearing the land and placing services etc.
http://www.heartofafricaestate.com/images/top_business.jpg
http://www.heartofafricaestate.com/images/top_birdeye.jpg
http://www.heartofafricaestate.com/images/top_retail.jpg

Hsark, very nice what is it? And where is it located? Nice work thank you

ZAMBIA READY TO PROVIDE CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS, SAYS MINISTER
LUSAKA, June 22 (NNN-ZANIS) -- The Zambian government is committed to providing a conducive environment for the private sector to do business in the country, says Acting Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Catherine Namugala.

This is because the government knows too well the capacity of the private sector to reducing poverty across the nation, said Namugala when speaking at the induction of Zambia Lafarge into the Lafarge International Health and Safety Excellence Club in Chilanga Monday.

She said the government was committed to a private sector-driven economy.

The Excellence Club comprises a group of countries which have shown excellent performance in safety and recognizes the expertise required by each country to gain the superior level of performance and behaviour that respective countries have attained.

Namugala, who is the Tourism Minister, urged all corporate entities in the country to take interest in issues of environmental protection in order to ensure sustainability.

Lafarge Cement Division International President Giulluane Roux said Lafarge Cement Zambia was the first African company to be inducted in the Excellence Club. Roux said Larfarge Cement Zambia had one of the highest health and safety standards in Africa.

Speaking at the same occassion, Lafarge Cement Zambia Managing Director Fola Esan said Lafarge Zambia should continue to take health and safety standards to higher levels. This would enable Lafarge Cement Zambia to be a shining example to other plants in Africa. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=124492

That's a very nice development! Where is exactly in Lusaka is it going to be located?
Who is the developer?

@ abesha , yupes sorry for the late reply it's in lusaka, along kafue road, about l0km from city center.

BAI designs first mixed-use complex in Zambia for Liberty Properties


Intro
The first phase of construction for a new 94 000m² mixed-use project, designed by South African architectural firm Bentel Associates International, has commenced in the Zambian capital of Lusaka

Levy Business Park is situated at the intersection of Church and Kabelenga roads - a flat site in a centrally situated light industrial area of Lusaka. The $200 million (R1.5bn) project, known as the 'Jewel of Lusaka', will consist of retail, office, hotel and residential nodes.

Socio-economic factors and contemporary developments in Zambia are creating a favourable climate for increasing foreign investment. Zambia's economy has experienced modest growth in recent years but the country is rich in natural resources and has vast tourism potential.

The Zambian government recently announced that it is committed to reform and the improvement of the country's business environment in order to attract investments into the country. It is focusing on implementing programmes that will support the growth of the private sector and is endeavouring to ensure that it continues to create and maintain a favourable investment climate.

Lusaka is intersected by four main highways, which include the Great North Road (to Tanzania) and the Great East Road (to Malawi). The popular tourist destination has become a favourite urban residential city for Zambians and a diverse community of foreigners. Its central location, rapid infrastructural growth and associated job creation augers well for the future of the city, which has the potential to become a prime investment destination if the government's proposed economic reforms are implemented and maintained.

In terms of population growth, Lusaka is considered one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. A growing middle class with increasing wealth has created a huge demand for retail and other lifestyle spaces.

The retail component:

The 30,000m2 two-level retail component, Zambia’s first fully enclosed shopping mall, will include two anchors from South Africa, a wide range of retail outlets and banks, a substantial food court adjoining a cinema complex and an extensive parking facility.

The design concepts:
The shopping complex has been designed to express several familiar African concepts and images in a modern context.

* A grand boulevard
"Shopping centres as we know them are uncommon in Zambia," says Clive Rudman, Bentel Associates International's design architect for the Levy project. "We looked at the whole idea of a high street, a familiar concept in Africa and we decided to use the metaphor of a high street as a starting point. Access to the site is off a busy intersection with a robot, so we decided to continue the high street, which exists on the other side of this intersection, into the site. Instead of having a road in the centre and pavements on either side, we created a 'Grand Boulevard' with pedestrian and vehicular routes that lead up to one of the centre's two main entrances, thus creating a continuation of the high street.
* A spectacular main entrance
The main entrance features a glass 'box' structure, creating a pronounced and clearly demarcated entrance from the Grand Boulevard. At night, this will be illuminated, creating a spectacular, jewel-like and inviting entrance to the complex.
* African tree line/canopy
The high street theme is complemented by a second theme, which utilizes the familiar/contextual concept of the African tree line. Actual trees and tall structural steel will be utilized to create the effect of a tree canopy. Tall palm trees will be planted on the ground floor and will grow through the second level up to the full height of the roof and its skylights.

"The whole idea is that you bring the outside in by utilizing familiar visual elements from the external environment, and then reinterpret them indoors thus making them an instantly recognizable part of the complex and a continuation of the outdoor high street," explains Rudman.

* A welcoming oasis
A third interrelated theme creates the sense of an oasis at the culmination of the 'routes' from the Grand Boulevard and the parking area. At the back of the complex structured parking will lead to a welcoming second entrance into the complex where a 'pause' area will be created with a magnificent water feature and plants. Views from the restaurant component overlook the green 'oasis'.

Rudman says that all the design elements will combine to draw people along the two main 'routes', creating a specific and continuous experience.

The hotel component:

The hotel component is situated on one of the corners of the intersection, opposite the office block site. The three-star hotel will house 150 rooms and a 400-seat convention centre. Once completed, the hotel will be managed by Southern Sun and will form part of the Stay Easy Hotel Group, a division of Southern Sun hotels.

The building will be a five storey structure with a guest swimming pool. "The contemporary Stay Easy design elements will be integrated with the rest of the development," says Rudman. "Hotel guests will have convenient access to the Mall's amenities and the Mall is expected to be positively affected by the hotel."

Office component:

The 5011m² five-floor office component will feature aesthetics and upmarket finishes that will harmonize with the overall development. It is anticipated that this component will become one of Zambia's most desirable corporate addresses.


"The project will be completed in two phases - the first phase which has just commenced construction, includes the retail centre, offices, parking and the hotel," adds Rudman. "The expected start date of Phase Two will be the middle of next year and will deliver a residential development arranged around five landscaped piazzas. The overall completion date for the development is expected towards the end of 2011."


http://www.gvpedia.com/uploads/images/libertyprop_southafrica_drawing.jpg

ZAMBIANS IN NORTHERN IRELAND URGED TO INVEST HOME
BELFAST (NORTHERN IRELAND), July 20 (NNN-ZANIS) -- Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Professor Royson Mukwena has urged the Zambian community in Northern Ireland to investing back home.

Speaking in Belfast where he met Zambians living in Northern Ireland, Prof. Mukwena said there were huge trade and investment opportunities in the energy, health, tourism, mining and agricultural sectors which Zambians living abroad may wish to invest in.

“You may wish to consider investing in solar energy, for example in the local manufacture of solar energy components. There are also opportunities in the agriculture and agro processing sector. There are opportunities in cassava processing into products such as sweeteners, glue, starch, plywood, animal feeds, Alcohol etc,” he said.

He said many opportunities also exist in fish farming and livestock, such as the processing of hides, skins, leather and leather processing. Opportunities exist in the development of computer software and assembly such as manufacturing of ICT equipment.

In the tourism sector, huge investment opportunities exist in Livingstone and the Northern Circuit. He informed the gathering that the Government had demarcated Tourism Development Zones in Livingstone and Northern and Luapula Provinces.

He reiterated that the Mission and Zambian Government considered Zambians in Northern Ireland and the entire Zambian Diaspora as key players in the economic development of the country.

In particular, he said the Diaspora were important partners in the marketing of Zambia as a destination for good profitable business and tourism.

“My appeal to you all is to remain patriotic and refrain from conduct that may tarnish the image of our country and be detrimental to its development. Your conduct here and what you convey or publish whether on the internet or in print media can either encourage or discourage the flow of trade, investments and tourists to Zambia,” he said.

He commended Zambians in Northern Ireland for having been good ambassadors and conducting themselves in a manner portraying the correct image of Zambia, saying that exemplary conduct by Zambians abroad was critical to marketing Zambian tourism.

Prof. Mukwena noted that the impression tourists form of Zambians during their interactions with Zambians in the Diaspora was critical to the tourist’s decision to visit the country.

“If you behave in a manner deemed unfriendly and unacceptable it will be unlikely that those potential tourists will decide to visit Zambia. Your message to those who wish to visit our country is that Zambia remains peaceful and all Zambians continue to exercise their democratic rights,” he said.

Prof. Mukwena said in order to ensure that the exemplary conduct and good efforts of the Zambian Diaspora in the UK were not in vain, the Mission will continue to play an efficient and effective role in marketing Zambian tourism and facilitating the flow of tourists into the country.

On foreign remittances, Prof. Mukwena told his audience that money sent back home by the Zambian Diaspora had slightly risen to K73.8 billion in the first quarter of this year (2010) from K71.5 billion during the same period last year (2009).

In the first quarter of 2010, there were a total of 56,335 transactions recorded compared with 51,043 recorded during the same period last year (2009). Last year (2009) K298 billion was sent back to Zambia with a total of 216,700 transactions recorded.

The meeting in Belfast was the last of the series the High Commissioner has had with Zambian communities in the UK following his presentation of credentials to Queen Elizabeth II on Feb 11 at Buckingham Palace.

The meetings were for purposes of introducing himself and exchanging views on various issues of interest to Zambians and in particular issues that affect them in the UK. He also used the opportunity to share information on political and economic developments in Zambia.

The High Commissioner has had meetings in London, Manchester, Coventry, Sheffield, Cardiff-Wales, Edinburgh- Scotland and Belfast- Northern Ireland. He also met Zambians in Dublin, Ireland. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=127485

oi
Zambia: MTN Zambia cuts international call charges by 40%


MTN Zambia chief executive officer Farhad Khan (L)

Reuters reports that MTN Group will slash international call rates by about 40 percent in Zambia after the southern African country opened up access to and cut the licensing fees for international gateway facilities.

Zamtel, the country’s fixed-line phone operator, used to control the sole gateway and charged private operators high fees for using it, but Zambia last week allowed other operators to set up their own facilities and cut the five-year international gateway licensing fee to $300,000 from $8 million.

“Some destinations including Canada, China and the U.S., which (combined) form our fifth most called destination, have had their charges reduced by more than 80 percent,” Farhad Khan, MTN Zambia’s CEO told Reuters.

He said call charges to countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Tanzania had been reduced by 45 percent, and the firm hoped this would help attract more subscribers.

“Although our target for this year is 1.5 million subscribers, we are aiming to exceed this and will definitely achieve the 2 million subscriber mark in the first half of 2011,” Khan said.

MTN competes with India’s Bharti Airtel in Zambia and state-owned Cell Z.

zambia overview for july 2010


Overview

The presidential and legislative elections, due in 2011, will be closely contested. The president, Rupiah Banda, and his Movement for Multiparty Democracy will benefit from strong powers of incumbency, but a victory for the opposition is looking increasingly possible. Economic policy will be underpinned by a three-year extended credit facility arrangement with the IMF. Policy execution will remain constrained by weak bureaucratic capacity.

The fiscal deficit is forecast to decline from 3.5% in 2009 to 1.5% in 2010 and 2.4% in 2011, enabling the government to reduce domestic borrowing.

The kwacha is forecast to appreciate to ZK4,794:US$1 in 2010, in line with higher copper prices and strong FDI inflows, and to depreciate to ZK4,953:US$1 as FDI inflows ease.
Key changes from last month
Political outlook

In the third case during the last 12 months of aid being frozen because of concerns about corruption, the Global Fund withheld US$120m in aid to the Ministry of Health. This is equivalent to 24% of anticipated grants in 2010.
Economic policy outlook

The government has selected a Libyan firm called LAP Green Networks to buy a 75% stake in the state-owned telecoms company, Zamtel, for US$275m. Zamtel's privatisation could pave the way for the removal of its monopoly on the international telecoms gateway.
Economic forecast

The forecast for real GDP growth in 2010 has been revised from 6.8% to 7.5% in line with new estimates of maize production, which is expected to increase by 48% in 2010, to 2.8m tonnes - its highest level in 20 years.

The inflation forecast has been revised from 9.7% to 9.2% in line with recent estimates of food production. The forecast for 2011 has been revised from 9.5% to 8.8%, as the surplus in 2010 will allow the Food Reserve Agency to build its stocks for next year.

Zambia to Sell First International Bond of $1 Billion
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=ave741DhTsx0&pid=20601087

This is the way forward, i wonder how far down the line they are in raising the finances.

Indian farmers plan Zambia investment Indian commercial farmers plan to invest in a new model farm in Zambia, according to the government, which seeks to diversify the economy by promoting agriculture as an alternative to copper and cobalt mining.

Zambia's ministry of foreign affairs said Indian farmers were interested in investing in the 155,000-hectare Nansanga model farm bloc, where the government had built roads and dams to attract investors to grow export crops.

'Indian commercial farmers, mostly specialising in sugar production, are expected in Zambia in December 2010 to explore prospects of investing in Nansanga farm bloc,' the ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.

'The expression of interest follows a business meeting between a Zambian investment promotion delegation and the Indian business community and commercial farmers in the commercial city of Mumbai.'

The global financial crisis hit Zambia's copper exports, and the government has said its economy cannot continue to rely on the copper industry.

Official data shows that as of November 2009, mining accounted for almost 90 per cent of exports from Zambia, Africa's top copper producer.

A government minister said in March Zambia had spent more than 100 billion Zambian kwacha ($20.6 million) on the electrification of the model farm and building of other infrastructure.

Zambia, previously a net importer of maize, has turned around its agricultural sector to become a net exporter following a government programme to provide subsidised pesticides and seed to small farmers, moves also aimed at improving security of food supplies.

The southern African country produced 2.7 million tonnes of maize in the 2009/2010 season, exceeding last season's harvest of 1.9 million tonnes and providing a surplus of 1.1 million tonnes.

Zambia planned to export some maize to Namibia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which had expressed interest in buying maize.-Reuters

PPP projects to boost construction industry By Business Reporter

THE National Council for Construction (NCC) is happy that the construction projects being undertaken under the Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) initiative will boost further growth in the construction industry this year.

The construction industry has been projected to grow between 23 and 25 per cent this year compared to 15.5 per cent growth recorded last year.

NCC executive director Sylvester Mashamba said Zambia had recorded an increase on construction projects under the PPPs initiative hence the hope the industry would have a higher growth this year compared to last year.

In an interview in Livingstone at the weekend, Dr Mashamba said the continued participation of both the private and public sectors in the construction would stimulate further growth in the industry.

Dr Mashamba said some of the construction projects being undertaken by the private sector included the Manda Hill expansion and the Levy Mwanawasa Junction in Lusaka and the Kitwe shopping mall.

The Government has established a PPP unit at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to spearhead works in various sectors of the economy.

Some sectors with the potential for PPP included housing and estates, office accommodation, health, education, social benefit scheme, road infrastructure, agriculture and energy, among others.

“So far, the donor funded projects have been on a slow down but we are optimistic that once the standoff between the Government and donors is resolved, we will reach the target by the end of this year,” he said.

Dr Mashamba noted the construction projects on the Government side had been slow.

He said there was need for the private sector to take a lead in the construction projects to reduce the dependancy on Government run projects. times of zambia

China, DBSA to fund $430 mln Zambia power project

LUSAKA (Reuters) - A Chinese bank and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) will lend state-owned power utility Zesco Ltd $430 million to raise the capacity of a hydropower station by 360 MW, a minister said on Thursday.

Zambia, Africa's top copper producer, will need to raise its power generation capacity to ensure sufficient supply as demand is expected to rise on the back of new investments in mining and other sectors.

Energy Minister Kenneth Konga said funds from the Export and Import bank of China (EXIM) and DBSA would pay for the extension of the Kariba North Bank power station, located more than 130 km south of Lusaka, which is to be completed by 2012.

The hydro plant produces 540 MW, but that will rise to 720 MW by October this year when the last of existing four generators is upgraded, Konga said.

The EXIM Bank of China would lend Zesco Ltd $315 million and DBSA would provide the remaining $115 million for the project whose contractor is Sino-Hydro of China, Konga said.

"The project involves putting up two new machines with a power generation capacity of 180 MW each and we expect that work will be completed by November 2012," Konga said.

Zambia currently generates 1,800 MW, with peak demand estimated at 1,600 MW, but forecasts demand to rise sharply in the coming years, government data shows.

ZAMBIAN PRES BANDA WANTS MAPUTO CITY AND LUSAKA TO GROW ECONOMICALLY
MAPUTO (MOZAMBIQUE), Aug 21 (NNN-ZANIS) -- Zambian President Rupiah Banda says the City of Lusaka and the Mozambique city of Maputo should work together and exchange developmental ideas in order for them to grow into greater cities economically.

President Banda said the two cities share a lot of similarities in many areas and should therefore cooperate towards developing into economic hubs.

He said when one of the two cities faces challenges of any form, it means the other would not enjoy as well.

President Banda said this Thursday at Maputo City Council when he received the key to the city from the Mayor of Maputo, David Simango.

The handing over of the Key to the visitor into a city is a symbolic welcome to a special guest to that particular city.

Mr. Banda said Zambia and Mozambique share long history of bilateral relations which should be enhanced at all levels of governance.

He said although Mozambicans were paying tribute to Zambia for the role she played in helping liberate their country, the Zambian people were also grateful of the cooperation existing between the two countries.

He said when people of the neighbouring country are not free, it means Zambia was not free as well hence the need to support each other in many areas.

The President assured the people of Mozambique that Zambia was ready to welcome them at any time because the people from the two countries were culturally, socially and economically the same despite being separated by geographical borders.

Earlier in the day, President Banda paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Mozambican National Assembly, Veronica Nataniel Macamo Dlovu, where he said the role of parliament was to unite people regardless of their political affiliations.

President Banda said Mozambican parliament, which comprises members from three different political parties, was exhibiting tenets of democracy.

Friday evening, the President met Zambians living in Mozambique after visiting Beira, which is about 1,000 kilometres from Maputo, where he has gone to tour Beira Port facilities.

President Banda winds up his three day state visit to Mozambique Saturday after touring the animal science directorate of the Mozambique National Research Institute. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=130919

New mine opening in Chingola

AFRICAN Rainbow Minerals (ARM) is set to create about 3,000 jobs at its new mine in the north of Chingola where construction for the production of copper by 2015 has started.

Mines and Minerals Development minister Maxwell Mwale said in an interview in Lusaka that the company would start producing copper in the next five years.

The minister said construction has already started at Konkola North to produce 45,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate in the first phase of the project but this would increase in the second phase to 100,000 tonnes.

And ARM executive chairperson said in a media release on its website that the company was building the new mine in the country with its partner, Vale and described the project as exciting to its diverse commodity portfolio.

ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT SAYS GOVT ADDRESSING DELAYS IN PAYMENTS TO FARMERS
MUNGWI, ZAMBIA, Sept 13 (NNN-ZANIS) -- The Zambian government is seriously addressing matters which have contributed to delayed payments by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to farmers for food delivered to encourage them to grow more crops and ensure food security in the nation, says President Rupiah Banda.

Speaking when he attended this year's Ukusefya Pang'wena traditional ceremony of the Bemba-speaking people at Mungwi, east of the Boma of Kasama, over the weekend, he praised farmers in Northern Province for making progress in maize production, resulting in the province selling 100 billion Kwacha (about 20.3 million USD) worth of maize to the FRA, compared with K72 billion sold last year.

He noted that under zambia's 2010 Budget, Northern Province was given the second largest allocation in the entire nation for use in priority areas, such as the construction of the Kasama-Mbala-Mpulungu Road for which government allocated K123 billion.

The president said the government released another K192 billion for use in the upgrading of the Kasama-Luwingu Road which was nearing completion and was also working on the Mbala-Nakonde Road and building a bridge at Mbesuma across the Chambeshi River. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=133005

WOW ! This project is really great ! I didn't know that it is in progress. It would be awesome and so exciting to visit it when they finish it...

http://s02.flagcounter.com/count/3Djs/bg=782D7D/txt=F1B8FF/border=CC62CC/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=1/pageviews=1/ http://2.s03.flagcounter.com/count/0NBu/bg=FFFFFF/txt=000000/border=CCCCCC/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=1/ http://2.s05.flagcounter.com/count/MECnk/bg=FFFFFF/txt=000000/border=CCCCCC/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=0/ http://2.s02.flagcounter.com/count/3Djs/bg=A87DFF/txt=000000/border=CC62CC/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=1/pageviews=0/

UK survey tips Zambia’s economy for growth
EUROPE’S top-notch business and economy survey, United Kingdom-based Business Monitor International (BMI) has projected that Zambia’s economy will outperform many African countries with real Gross Domestic Produce (GDP) forecast to rise to 7.5 per cent.

This is consistent with remarks by Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane when he Budget that Zambia’s growth rate remains unshaken because of the broad economic fundamentals that have been put together by the Government.

BMI’s forecast is on the back of sustained higher copper prices, sustained foreign direct investment, and a focus on long-term infrastructure development with political stability as well as a rich endowment of natural resources.

“The outlook for the Zambian economy is bright, with relative political stability, an improving business environment and a rich endowment of natural resources setting the country up to attract high levels of foreign direct investment,” the just-released report states.

It notes, however, that the only single risk to the projection could arise with decreased demand for base metal.

“Indeed, a fall in demand and a decrease in the price of the base metal is the largest single risk to our view that the Zambian economy will grow by 7.5 per cent in 2010,” it adds.

The rise in foreign direct investment will set the platform for robust economic growth over the medium term, with real expansion forecast to average 7.3 per cent over the coming decade.

Much of the impetus for this growth will come from a deepening partnership with China, which is expected to be a major foreign investor in the Zambian economy.

While the majority of this foreign direct investment has historically been targeted at the mining sector, BMI states that Chinese investment would increasingly focus the country’s economy.

“While the investment in non-mining activities bodes well for diversified economic growth in the medium-to-long term, we caution that, in the near term, the Zambian economy remains reliant on the copper industry”, says the report.

The average copper price forecast by BMI for 2010 at US$6,800 per tonne has factored in a slowing Chinese property market and economy.

“However, a more dramatic slow down than we currently anticipate, or a fall in copper demand beyond our expectations, could render our growth forecast overly optimistic,” the report explains.

It states that a risk to the longer-term outlook for the Zambian economy was that the country would fail to sustain the levels of foreign direct investment it is currently attracting but notes that the Government appears mindful of this risk and has committed itself to providing a business environment that will keep foreign companies and investors interested.

“Efforts to ensure a flexible labour force, a low tax regime, easy access to credit as well as to improve physical infrastructure mean that Zambia’s business environment rating of 37.9 out of 100 is likely to move higher over the coming years,” adds the report.http://www.lusakatimes.com/2010/10/11/uk-survey-tips-zambias-economy-growth/

Zambia economy may grow 6.4 pct in 2011 -finance min
Musokotwane said Zambia planned a 20.5 trillion kwacha budget in 2011 -- 7.7 percent of it to be covered by donors, and 15.5 percent financed through domestic borrowing and external borrowing. The rest is expected to come from domestic revenues.

Half the budget would be spent on social sectors and infrastructure development, he said.

Musokotwane said the government would borrow $400 million on concessional and non-concessional terms in 2011 to invest in infrastructure and power generation projects.

"These resources we intend to borrow will be spent wisely. We are mindful that five years ago we were still paying the price of unsustainable debt contraction for projects of little or no economic return," he said, referring to the excessive debt the country had taken on.

He reiterated the government's year-end inflation target of 8 percent for 2010, adding that inflation should ease to 7 percent by the end of next year.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said last month that it expected Zambia's economy to register strong economic growth next year. [ID:nLDE68E290]

The government this year paid a higher-than-projected wage bill of 262 billion kwacha and provided an additional 680 billion kwacha to buy maize from small-scale farmers following a bumper harvest, forcing the treasury to borrow, he said.

"Total borrowing is now expected to reach 3.3 percent of percent of GDP by the end of the year, against an initial projection of 2.5 percent," he said.

Zambia's current account deficit in 2010 was expected to narrow to $378 million from $404 million in 2009 mainly on account of an improvement in Zambia's trade balance due to higher copper earnings, he said.

Musokotwane said the government wanted to maintain foreign reserves to cover at least four months' worth of imports in 2011. Reserves at the end of September stood at $2.1 billion, reflecting donor inflows, proceeds from the government's sale of a 75 percent stake in telecommunications firm Zamtel and higher receipts from the mining industry. (Reporting By Chris Mfula, Editing by Ed Cropley) http://af.reuters.com/article/zambiaNews/idAFLDE6971DI20101008?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

Zambia now 4th largest economy in regionBy Charles Kachikoti

Zambia now has the fourth largest economy in the SADC region after Tanzania, Angola and South Africa.

Important changes are happening, and the challenge Zambians have is to recognize and exploit the new turn of events.

The challenge is for us to ‘see’ what is happening and to ‘run’ with what we can see. The challenge is to see what Joshua and Caleb saw in Canaan across the River Jordan, when Moses sent 12 spies into the ‘future.’ For the future lies before us and our children.

Although it is true that the citizenry cannot eat statistics and monthly or quarterly economic reports, the new realities demand creative thinking so that the emerging opportunities are not missed.

One new development that directly affects daily lives of households is the uniformity of fuel prices being introduced countrywide, following a chain of reductions in mealie-meal prices.

Without a doubt, Zambia is on the whole on a positive footing and this alone should inspire hope for everyone who is able to recognize the gifts (divinely endowed natural talent) God has deposited in each individual.

The IMF World Economic Outlook Database dated October 2009 has stated in its SADC GDP (Gross Domestic Product) projections for the period 2009-2014 that Zambia shall still be number four in 2014 and could possibly overtake Tanzania to become the third largest economy

This month’s Citigroup Global Markets Macro View of Zambia states that real GDP growth of 6.2 per cent this year is the highest in the decade, defying the slowdown caused by the global recession.

These changes stand for increased opportunities, and opportunities demand imagination and initiative. Economic trends always have their obstacles, but the open-ended Zambian economy does not exclude anyone from using that innate creativity to generate meaningful incomes.

If the outside world recognizes these positive happenings, then we should take a fresh look at our fortunes and realize that they are our gains. New US ambassador Mark Storella, presenting his credentials before President Rupiah Banda this month, demonstrated the US Government’s confidence in the Zambian people, their Government and their President when he said:

“This year the United States will expend almost two trillion kwacha, or $400 million, strengthening Zambia’s health system and combating AIDS, improving educational opportunities for Zambian children, increasing agricultural output, and strengthening institutions and service delivery—all in cooperation with your Government.”

Agriculture

According to the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), today Zambia is the only southern African country that is self-sufficient in wheat. The 2009/2010 season saw wheat production rise to 216 000 tonnes from 190 000 tonnes in the 2008/2009 season. Our annual wheat consumption is about 160 000.

The ZNFU in April reported that in the 1990s wheat production fell to as low as 30 000 tonnes a year, and in the last five years annual average output is around 130 000 tonnes. This comes at a time when many countries are experiencing wheat shortages.

The Citigroup report recognizes this year’s 2.7 million tonnes maize harvest. This marks an upward climb from the 1.9 million tonnes of 2009 which represented 7.1 per cent growth in agriculture. Seen against the 1.4 million tonnes demand per year, the 2010 harvest represents important levels of agricultural growth. Aggressive agricultural policies have paid off.

When Vice-President George Kunda addressed farmers in Chisamba recently, he said: “It is a good and positive aspect that our policies are bearing fruit. We are self-sufficient in maize, wheat and soya beans production. We need to ensure that this is sustainable so that we can grow more crops.”

This turn of events has spurred reductions of mealie-meal prices among millers. The cost of a bag of mealie-meal has been lowered by as much as K12 000 for breakfast meal in some cases and K21 000 for roller meal in some instances.

Here is proof that all things are possible to them who believe. Today they are becoming practically possible in our country.

Of the total 752,614 square kilometre land surface of Zambia, 47 per cent is arable land and of this only 14 per cent is in use. Another 30 per cent is occupied by National Parks and Game Management Areas, hills and swamps take up 12 per cent, forests 9 per cent. Urban development takes up only 2 per cent of the country’s land. This immense potential announces to us immense possibility. It is always a question of taking economic challenges with a positive vision rather than a defeated approach.

For those whose eyes are on leaving an inheritance for their children and their children’s children, (Prov 13:22), good things are happening in Zambia.

Mining

Vale SA, the world’s biggest exporter of iron ore, recently announced that its strategic 50:50 joint venture with African Rainbow Minerals Limited (ARM), a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, will release the development of the Konkola North copper project in Zambia.

The project has an estimated capital expenditure of approximately US$ 400 million, and is expected to start up production in 2013 and to reach full capacity in 2015.

In keeping with this trend, the Citigroup report anticipates a new copper boom: “We expect that the steady pick-up in copper production in recent years will be maintained over the next few years. This reflects the steady rise in global copper prices between 2003 and 2007, which sucked in a wave of FDI into the country’s copper sector and is not driving a steady increase in production; a trend clearly visible in the first six months of 2010. Moreover, we expect the copper price to remain high.”

Good things are happening. If foreign investors have seen it, we must not neglect our personal and family vineyards (as did the African in Song of Solomon 1:5 and 6) but see what vineyards (resources) we already have and work them.

The same Citigroup report anticipates a stronger performance for the kwacha: “While we do not think that the kwacha is about to embark on another major bull run as in 2007 and into 2008 anytime soon, the ongoing copper boom and other trends in the economy may indicate that the recent sustained period of kwacha weakness is now behind us and the pressures on the currency for the next year or so may well be for modest appreciation, although the party is unlikely to be smooth.”

The report records 15.8 per cent growth in the mining sector, buoyed by rapid rebounds in commodity prices. The determination of mining companies to recover operating costs even when global prices were low up until copper prices improved during 2003-2007 made a telling difference. New mines have also steadily increased production.

“Moreover, with new investment continuing to be attracted into the sector by the fact that global copper prices look set to continue to remain high during this period, we see no real reason why the government will not meet its current target of producing one million tonnes of copper a year by 2012.

This year, we think that it is perfectly possible that Zambian copper production will pass its last level of peak production, which as in 1969 at 748 000 tonnes, when the sector accounted for around half of GDP and virtually all of export earnings. However, from this high, production fell to a low of 234 000 tonnes in 2000 from which the current rebound has started.”

Last month, Government said levels of direct foreign investment in Zambia were expected to exceed US$3 billion this year. While the investments occurred mainly in the mining sector, projects in manufacturing and tourism would add to the projections that initially targeted US$2bn. By the middle of this year Zambia had recorded US$2.5bn in direct foreign investment.

The copper industry has its conundrums though. The Citigroup report states that copper exports were US$ 3 179m while mining taxes collected by the government were a mere US$ 126m. That arena remains a source of controversy.

But surely there is no controversy about what you can achieve if you realize that your gift, your divinely endowed natural talents that cannot be learned anywhere, is the world in you. God has placed the world in your heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11), He has set eternity and its limitless expanse in you. That means in a country also rich in cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver and uranium, all things are possible in your lane, your path, your marathon.

Effect

The Citigroup report adds that it is only in the second half of 2010 that the impact of the18 months of increased copper production has started to trickle down. An example cited is that credit towards the private sector is no longer constricted. Some commercial banks have lowered their lending rates.

When an economy improves, the first expectation is higher average incomes, with improved conditions of nutrition, sanitation, health, education and other human needs. But since poverty and poor living conditions remain, positive resolve from all Zambians will be decisive in transforming the economy.

One area needing critical attention is the weak infrastructure, and even here good things are happening. Only last week President Rupiah Banda commissioned, for the first time in Zambia’s medical history, a new K10.5 billion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner and the Computerised Tomography (CT scanner) at the Cancer diseases Hospital on the University Teaching Hospital grounds. Since its installation in July, nearly 600 patients have undergone scans.

Importantly, those who cannot afford the scans will be catered for. The need for international travel for this solution is now history.
The upgrading of five Lusaka health centres to first-level hospital status, and the on-going construction of 29 new hospitals inclusive of the Lusaka General Hospital, are further signs of works that will directly serve people in all walks of life.

In the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP), Government plans to construct 100 high schools countrywide to increase the progression rate to high school from the current 40 per cent to about 70 per cent. The first 45 high schools are under construction. You need to see the excitement among the people living around the construction sites.

Inflation

Challenges do exist. In July, most industrial and domestic users had to handle a 25.1 per cent increase in electricity rates and in 2011 a further rise of 21 per cent is anticipated. Rising electricity rates and fuel prices are parallel threats to economic progress in that all production rides on energy. Even then, the will to solve, create and succeed with resources and opportunities available is vital for our survival.

The present economic perimeters serve to spark the idea that will make the difference in our lives. That idea is couched in our gifts, but the trouble for most of us is that we see life with disbelief, skepticism and even cynicism. We are not doing the works we created to do in Christ (Eph 2:10) because we have not connected with life’s purpose.

In the Old Testament, Caleb and Joshua saw a land flowing with milk and honey. The other ten spies highlighted only obstacles and giant problems. The problematic conditions were there in the Promised Land, but Caleb and Joshua who were homeless like all other Israelites, had the attitude for those conditions. They had a sense of purpose even in the worst of times.

The African Economic Outlook says this: “After 30 years of relatively dismal economic performance, Zambia’s macroeconomic situation has changed in the last 10 years with gross domestic product (GDP) growth at an unprecedented average of 4.8% between 1999 and 2009. Growth continues to be driven by increased output in the construction, mining and agriculture sectors.

Nonetheless, the growth process continues to be severely limited by: energy bottlenecks; public-sector constraints, mainly in the civil service; infrastructural problems; and insufficient progress towards key institutional reforms.

On a positive note, GDP growth for 2009 was estimated at 6.1%, a relatively small dip from 6.3 in 2008, and the 2010 and 2011 GDP growth forecasts stand at 5.5% and 5.7%, respectively. The transformation can be largely attributed to the economic and public-sector reforms initiated in 1991.”

That does not translate to shoes on every foot or eggs in every hand or a roof over every head, but all those things that should work have room to work right here on Zambian soil. Even with visible and undeniable difficulties, a new morning has dawned on Zambia.

Waters

Water Aid International has said in its website: “Zambia is off track in meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets of halving the proportions of people without water and sanitation from 1990 to 2015. The amount of money currently spent on water and sanitation is $35 million per year, $19 million short of the amount needed if the MDGs are to be reached.”

But then Zambia has the largest portion of the Southern African region’s surface area water resources, the main water sources being the Zambezi, Kafue, Luangwa and Chambeshi rivers and lakes Tanganyika, Bangweulu, Mweru and Kariba. Zambia’s rivers and lakes are evenly distributed such that there are at least one major water resources in every region. Zambezi River alone covers a distance of 3540 kms from its source in the North-Western Province to the Indian Ocean in the east.

Water supply and irrigation difficulties acknowledged, Zambia (with a defined 20 scenic waterfalls scattered around the country) already has all it takes to work something sensible at all levels of society.

Wildlife

Ernestile Zimba, writing in a safari website in April 2006 said this about Zambia’s wildlife: “Zambia is an exceptional safari country. Wildlife safaris are not confined to one area. The 19 national parks and 34 game management areas that constitute 30 per cent of the country are evenly located. There are four national parks in eastern Zambia, five in northern, four in central, three in southern and three in western Zambia.” Since wildlife have long located themselves around water sources, the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has demarcated such areas as sanctuaries for wildlife, inclusive of the 40 000 hippopotamuses found in the Luangwa Valley, the largest population in the world.

Decisions

But as we rise every morning, we all have to answer the questions shining in the light of the rising sun: What are you going to do? What are you able to do? What have you chosen to do? The complaint is loud and clear, but what is your decision?

Weeping may endure all night but joy comes in the morning. And since the morning has dawned on Zambia, those whose season of weeping is ended with job or business opportunities should rise and walk. Tomorrow they must not be found still weeping, but they should help those who will be weeping then.

Within all the thorny and difficult economic realities, good things are happening in Zambia. That means we should believe and arise because nothing is impossible with God, and all things are possible to them who believe.

The author is Chief Policy Analyst for Press and Public Relations at State House.

POLL-Zambia economic growth seen at 6.6 pct in 2010
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Zambia's economy is likely to grow by more than 6 percent this year and next, bolstered by a rebound in copper prices MCU3 and a pick-up in agriculture, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday.

A poll of 11 economists showed Africa's biggest copper producer should expand by a median 6.6 percent this year, up from estimates of 6.0 percent growth in a previous poll in April but in line with an International Monetary Fund forecast.

Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said last week growth could be even higher.

The poll also predicted growth of 6.4 percent next year.

Zambia has averaged 5 percent growth over the last six years, driven mainly by a rebound in copper production, which had declined for nearly three decades until 2004.

"The tight supply conditions in copper and very high copper prices continue to underpin the economy and bode well for 2011," said Riddle Markus, an Africa strategist at Johannesburg-based Absa Capital.

Zambia aims to almost double the contribution of mining to gross domestic product by 2015 to 20 percent by attracting greater investment in the sector.[ID:nLDE69D1K3]

A bumper harvest in the 2010 agricultural season has also propped up growth while easing pressure on food prices -- the biggest category in the overall consumer inflation basket.

The poll forecast annual inflation to average 8.5 and 8.9 percent this year and in 2011 respectively after it eased to 7.3 percent year-on-year in October from 7.7 percent the previous month.[ID:nLDE69R0TF]

Central bank Governor Caleb Fundanga said last week inflation was likely to end the year below the Bank's 8 percent target, thanks to a bumper maize harvest and an expected stability in the exchange rate.[ID:nWEA7722]

The kwacha ZMK= has gained over 11 percent against the dollar since its weakest point in the second quarter of the year and was last trading at 4,665 against the dollar on Tuesday. http://af.reuters.com/article/zambiaNews/idAFLDE6AF0GW20101117

Zambia's Economy Probably Expanded by 6.6% This Year, Ministry Tells IMF
Zambia’s economy probably expanded by 6.6 percent this year and the country is on track to achieve an 8 percent inflation target by year end, the country’s finance ministry said in a letter to the International Monetary Fund published on the website of the IMF yesterday.

Revenue for the year will likely be 9 percent over target while expenditure will be 7 percent higher than expected after the government bought a corn surplus from farmers, the ministry said in the letter.

The country will aim to reduce inflation to 7 percent by the end of 2011 and broad money growth may slow to 15 percent, it said.

Zambia will try and export the 800,000-ton corn surplus it acquired and will re-examine the way the national corn industry is run, the ministry said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-23/zambia-s-economy-probably-expanded-by-6-6-this-year-ministry-tells-imf.html

Zambia: ‘Soaring copper prices to boost economic growth’
http://www.lusakatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Millenium-shopping-mall-Ndola-Constructions-works-of-Emman-Enterprise-farming-and-Millenium-shopping-mall-on-the-Copperbelt..jpg

The Private Sector Development Association (PSDA) has predicted massive economic development for the country following the rise in copper prices on the London Metal Exchange.

Association Chairperson Yusuf Dodia said the development would undoubtedly boost the country’s economic growth.

Mr. Dodia said the country’s income from the mining sector would go up, thereby propelling massive investment in the mining industry.

He stated that the massive developments and investments that were expected to take place in the mining sector would result into more jobs being created for the local people.

Mr. Dodia told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that mine supplies would also begin to flourish in the Zambia economy, saying this would translate into positive economic indicators.

He however, urged Government to ensure export earnings from the mining sector were maintained into Zambian banks before being released out in expenses.

The PSDA Chairperson prodded Government through the central bank, Bank of Zambia (BoZ) to come up with a mechanism that would inhibit export earnings from the mining sector to leave the country before local enterprises could borrow the money to invest in other sectors of the Zambian economy.

Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange have soared to over 9, 000 US dollars per tonne.http://www.lusakatimes.com/2010/12/24/soaring-copper-prices-boost-economic-growth/

something different from the business news

http://www.lusakatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/An-architectural-impression-of-the-Ndola-Stadium-when-its-completed.jpg
THE 40,000-seater state-of the-art Ndola Stadium is expected to be completed three months ahead of schedule in June from the initial October deadline.

And Bank of Zambia (BoZ) governor Caleb Fundanga who has described the stadium as a masterpiece said the completion of the Ndola Stadium ahead of schedule was a record breaker.

Once the stadium is completed, it would mean that the national soccer team would play the remaining 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football qualifiers and other major international matches at the Ndola stadium.

Zambia previously used to play international matches at the Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe which has since fallen out of favour, while Nkoloma Stadium was declared unfit to host international matches of the AFCON magnitude.

Konkola was the only other alternative after the closure of the dilapidated Independence Stadium in Lusaka about five years ago.

The BoZ chief who toured the construction site yesterday said the completion of the works, three months ahead of time, was a record and described the works as impressive.

Fundanga who was amazed at the works carried out by Chinese firm, Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company (AFECC) also used the opportunity to take pictures of the stadium.

The BoZ governor said the construction of the stadium was a big development in Ndola, especially after the demolition of the Dag Hammerskjoeld Stadium with plans to erect another structure having earlier failed.

He said the construction of the stadium would place Zambia at an advantage as the country would be able to host Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions unlike at the moment when the country was incapable.

He sad with the completion of the stadium a lot of young players would be inspired to play at the pitch and the nation can once again create great players in the likes of Kalusha Bwalya.

Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company (AFECC) vice-president Chen Ju said the ultra modern stadium would be completed earlier than the initial deadline.

Chen commended Government and Ndola City Council (NCC)for being helpful during their undertaking of the project.
He said they have a work force of 1,200 workers who also include Chinese experts.

The project here will also help to improve the economy of Ndola because Chinese contractor Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company (AFECC) had employed the local workers.

During the tour of the stadium, Chen told the BOZ governor that the VIP stand at the stadium would have four floors and elevators would also be installed which will be convenient.

He said the 40,000 sitting capacity would also have a running track while the height of the VIP stand would be about 50.5 metres high.

The bank governor was accompanied by other BoZ directors, including the regional director Morris Mulomba and other staff.
[Times of Zambia]

levy business park mall + towers is coming along nicley i'll try get pictures if i can ,
major overhall of manda hill 1st phase is complete 2nd phase starts next ...year 2011 ,
raidison blu near arcades is nearly completion should be open by feb
upgrade of acrades should start this year ,
mwiza knowledge hotel is coming along nicely ,
work on the new independce staduim should start once ndola is complete,
some projects are also coming up :offices:
unfortunatly hearts of africa is dead due to the recession but i hope legacy has a new project
oh and of course there a couple malls coming up in the copper belt
i'll try my best to get pictures

also the 2 new hospitals are coming along nicely 1 new general hospital and another private 1
more pics of ndola stadium u/c
http://www.zambianfootball.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Ndola-stadium-550x412.jpg
http://www.zambianfootball.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/The-Western-side-of-Ndola-Stadium-is-almost-complete-550x412.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44122000/jpg/_44122895_new_zambia_stadium203.jpg

Thanks for the updates Hsark...

Are you home for holidays???

Thanks for the updates Hsark...

Are you home for holidays???

yes the country of my birth thou i've spent 80% of my life outside the country :lol: it still feels great to be back home... will be back to my 2nd home in jan

Nice stadiums updates.

Zambia: New Independence Stadium construction to begin soon:banana:

A ZNBC Sports crew found the Company putting up structures in readiness for the ground breaking ceremony.

Group vice General Manager Wu Zhen Rong said the ground breaking ceremony is expected to take place on January 10, 2011.

http://ukzambians.co.uk/home/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/stadium-300x199.png

Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China Hui Liangyu has arrived in Zambia amid tight security for a three day official visit.

The Plane carrying Mr. Liangyu touched down at Livingstone International Airport at 11:50 hours today.

Mr. Liangyu was received by Southern Province Minister Elijah Muchima, Provincial Permanent Secretary Gladys Kristafor and other Senior Government Officials.

Mr. Liangyu is tomorrow expected to meet President Rupiah Banda at State House before meeting Vice President George Kunda.

The Chinese vice Premier will thereafter in the afternoon together with President Banda go for the ground breaking ceremony of the New Lusaka Stadium near the Independence Stadium.

Vice President Kunda will later in the evening host a dinner for Mr. Liangyu where the two will witness the signing ceremony of the China Development Fund.



don't have the renders yet but hopefully will find them soon + the existing independence stadium is to be renovated as a training ground the new Olympic center houses basketball tennis a gym and etc will be close by but its being done my a different group with the ioc

render of the Independence stadium
http://www.lusakatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/New_Lusaka_Stadium.jpg

should i continue to post projects in here of under a different thread"like projects" i've got news on 2 new malls u/c and the expansion of arcades + 1 proposal of mall + the new trade development zone in lusaka u/c any ideas guys ??

Go Zambia! New Zambian thread made for Ndola ;)
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1302969

should i continue to post projects in here of under a different thread"like projects" i've got news on 2 new malls u/c and the expansion of arcades + 1 proposal of mall + the new trade development zone in lusaka u/c any ideas guys ??

yes!! post projects!! There arent many Zambian projects discussed on SSC.

Create a new thread for projects! In the projects section :yes:

Create a new thread for projects! In the projects section :yes:

hsark knows more about Zambian affairs than I do :) I specialize in Namibia, Ghana, Tanzania

should i continue to post projects in here of under a different thread"like projects" i've got news on 2 new malls u/c and the expansion of arcades + 1 proposal of mall + the new trade development zone in lusaka u/c any ideas guys ??

I could start a thread called "Zambian shopping centers, malls, and projects"

I could post pictures of pre existing shopping complexes (like manda hill) and you can post projects onto the thread is you would like.

^^

Created the thread!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1308365

^^

Created the thread!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1308365

thanks u can use what ever information others or i post in this thread i'll concertrait on general zambia projects

Zambia: Zambia plans to boost DRC exports to $2bn-Mutati lusakatimes.com
Zambia plans to boost its exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo to more than $2 billion this year from $1.2 billion in 2009, taking advantage of the flexible trade terms, Trade Minister Felix Mutati said on Thursday.

Mutati said exports to the DRC, Zambia’s largest trading partner in the African trading bloc COMESA, had continued to increase because there were no restrictions on goods it could export to its neighbour.

“The advantage of the DR Congo is that the range of exports is from agricultural products through to processed items, machinery and literally anything we can produce in Zambia,” Mutati said at a media briefing.

“All those complicated things which make it difficult to trade, particularly with Europe, do not apply with our neighbours and you could literally take live chickens across borders and they will buy,” Mutati said.

Mutati said Zambia had started building a one-stop border at Kasumbalesa on the border with DRC to facilitate trade and speed up clearance procedures.
“All those complicated things which make it difficult to trade, particularly with Europe, do not apply with our neighbours and you could literally take live chickens across borders and they will buy,” Mutati said.

“We expect the buildings and related infrastructure to be completed by the end of this year because our colleagues in the DRC have already completed their structures,” he said.

A report by the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa in November showed service costs were high in sub-Saharan Africa due to poor roads, water and power networks and the region needed to double its infrastructure spending to $93 billion a year to effect improvements.

Millennium Park Mall ndola
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/Untitled-1-1.jpg
http://www.millenniumshoppingmall.com/images/rsgallery/original/crane.jpg

http://www.millenniumshoppingmall.com/images/rsgallery/display/cinema%20hall%20entrance.jpg.jpg

http://www.millenniumshoppingmall.com/images/rsgallery/display/view1.jpg.jpg

http://www.millenniumshoppingmall.com/images/rsgallery/display/01.jpg.jpg

update on leavy junction which will be zambia's biggest mall also has 2 office blocks and a 5 star hotel u/c
http://www.lusakatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Mall_Construction.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/levy2.jpg

I have pictures of the upgraded and refurbished Manda Hill Mall!! (scroll to the bottom of the page)
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1308365

Millennium Park Mall ndola
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/Untitled-1-1.jpg
http://www.millenniumshoppingmall.com/images/rsgallery/original/crane.jpg

http://www.millenniumshoppingmall.com/images/rsgallery/display/cinema%20hall%20entrance.jpg.jpg

http://www.millenniumshoppingmall.com/images/rsgallery/display/view1.jpg.jpg

http://www.millenniumshoppingmall.com/images/rsgallery/display/01.jpg.jpg

:applause::applause::applause: GO GO ZAMBIA, i love the copper bullets:cheers:

thanks musicc and kiligo there another mall in ndola currently under proposal called copperbelt city by hbw ,i'm currently tied up so cant post any info but the render is only if someone wants to post it while i'm away thanks

Dear forumers interested in Zambia or are Zambian:
I have made a thread on Copperbelt City in Kitwe
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1313483

woooh too quite in here
u/c a new(construction started in 2010) manufacturing development zone was there in December they were working on the road network and infrastructure watch this space http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196828_207454772601714_100000115791258_865008_8248004_n.jpg
ps: i know the zambian engineers for this project so ill try hustle some information from them

By: Reuters
4th April 2011
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A South African company plans to build a $251-million sugar and bio-ethanol plant in Zambia, one of the largest non-mining investments in recent years in Africa's biggest copper producer, an official said on Saturday.

Muhabi Lungu, a director at the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), said AGZAM of South Africa would start developing the project next month after signing an agreement with Zambia last week.

"The company will produce 200 000 t of sugar and 28-million litres of bio-ethanol per year," Lungu said. "Production is expected to start by 2013 and we expect that the project will create around 4 000 jobs."

Lungu said the South African firm would cultivate about 15 000 hectares of cane sugar and support about 3 000 hectares of plantations by out-growers.

Once completed, it will increase Zambian sugar production by 50%.
Edited by: Reuters


LUSAKA (Reuters) - Nigeria's largest cement maker Dangote Cement will invest $400 million to build a cement plant in Zambia over the next three years, its chief executive said on Friday.

Aliko Dangote said the cement plant, to be constructed from next year to 2013, was among the largest investments that the company was making outside mining.

"We will be producing 1.5 million tonnes of cement per year at the plant in Zambia when the company reaches the full production capacity by 2013," Dangote said.

Dangote plans to set up other plants and import terminals in countries including Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal, aimed at producing a total of 46 million tonnes of cement in five years' time on the continent, 30 million of it in Nigeria. .

http://www.zda.org.zm/1817-zambias-economic-growth-impresses-un
Zambia's Economic Growth Impresses UN
06/05/11 - Fri

The United Nations (UN) has described Zambia's economic performance as impressive and that it should be sustained to attain the prosperous middle-income country status. United Nations Under-Secretary Rebecca Grynspan said in Lusaka that the growth posted in the economy so far was a shining example that would help in reducing poverty in the country.
She said this at a meeting with Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister David Phiri. She said the UN had observed with keen interest how Zambia was transforming its economy and trying to make the lives of the citizens better through various initiatives.

"I must say that the UN is very impressed with the performance of Zambia's economy. The country has achieved so much in the past few years to make the lives of the Zambians better. If this performance is maintained, poverty would greatly be reduced," he said.

She said the 7.6 per cent economic growth recorded in 2010 was an impressive rate which was not just better than all Southern Africa countries but Sub-Saharan Africa as well. She also praised Zambia's low inflation rate, which last month stood at 8.8 per cent saying a single digit inflation rate and a and growing economy were impressive macroeconomic indicators to the development of any nation.

Zambia's inflation rate last year ended at 7.9 per cent, which was the second straight year as a single digit, with 2008 being the only year with double digit because of the Global economic crisis.

The UN official said the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) which looked at reducing poverty and improving infrastructure if well implemented could bring poverty levels in the country low.

And Mr Phiri said the Government was determined to post even better economic growths in the years to come. He said Zambia's economic growth had been rising steadily from 5.3 in 2008 to since 6.3 the following year and the 7.6 per cent recorded last year.

"Zambia is one of the very few countries in the region that are able to feed itself and even export food. Maize harvest in 2008/09 season was 1.8 million tonnes and then the last farming season registered 2.8 million tonnes.This has helped to keep food prices and inflation low," he said.

He added that all other sectors were performing well with copper production rising to 800 000 last year, when it was at 200 000 in the 1970's while Zambia's exchange rate had remained stable with the construction sector on the rise.

He praised the UN for helping collaborating in the various developmental projects.Times of Zambia/05/05/2011

RB breaks ground for the construction of HITACHI plant to be completed in December

http://www.lusakatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/hitachi.jpg

President Rupiah Banda says construction of the Hitachi manufacturing plant is an indication that Zambia is ripe for investment from all around the world.
Hitachi will invest an initial 15 million United States dollars, which is over 7.1 billion Kwacha in the first phase of the project expected to be completed in December this year.
Mr Banda was speaking at the Ground breaking ceremony of Hitachi construction machinery Zambia limited factory on airport road.
The plant will be assembling earth moving equipment and is expected to employ over 200 people in the construction phase.
President Banda says the establish of Hitachi is important for Zambia because of the jobs and technology transfer it will bring into the country.
Mr Banda notes that once the plant is up and running it will establish Zambia as a major source of earth moving equipment for the region.
He has thanked Hitachi for the investment which he believes will attract more Japanese investors to Zambia.
The President says Zambia has huge investment opportunities in the mining, manufacturing and tourism sectors.
Hitachi is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of construction, mining and earthmoving equipment.
This is the first ever investment into the manufacturing sector by a Japanese company.
The investment is expected to add impetus to President Banda’s desire to create more jobs for Zambians.
And Japan says Hitachi’s investment in Zambia is a clear indication that the country is an attractive investment destination, and that Zambia has great potential to be an economic hub of the region.
Japanese Ambassador to Zambia, Akio Egawa says the investment will also be a valuable booster to the economy.
He said this in Lusaka on Thursday during the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of Hitachi Construction Machinery re-manufacturing factory along Lusaka’s airport road.
And Commerce Minister Felix Mutati says Hitachi investment will attract other global investors into the Country.
And Vice President of Hitachi Construction Machinery Yokio Arima says the company believes in Zambia and her economy.
Mr Arima told ZNBC News that the company targets to rehabilitate earth moving equipment for the mining companies in Zambia and the region.
He says the company will initially employ about 20 Zambians to work at the plant when its operation by end of this year.
ZNBC

Zambia to exceed GDP target :cheers:

STANDARD Chartered Bank managing director Mizinga Melu has said the country is poised to exceed the projected seven percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth by the end of the year following the economic boom recorded in agriculture, mining and infrastructure.
Mrs Melu said the country’s economic growth in the three sectors is a positive indicator in the financial markets.
She said the recent bumper harvest recorded in the agricultural sector is another good sign that Government policies are working.
She said this during the opening of a one-day training for corporate clients and regulators at Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka yesterday.
“Zambia’s economic performance is positive and as a bank, we are predicting that at the end of the year, the country will exceed seven percent GDP because the major sectors are doing fine” she said.
She said the positive growth had seen a new class of middle income earners emerging and the bank was positioning itself to offer the best solutions to its clients.
Mrs Melu said the local currency is stable and the role of the bank is to protect the interests of its customers against any risks in the financial market.
“This positive outlook presents a significant opportunity for financial intermediaries like banks if they position themselves well in the market,” she said.
Mrs Melu warned that the global market is becoming unpredictable and sophisticated and the bank has to strive to lead the market in providing innovative solutions and services to its customers.
[Zambia Daily Mail]

Engineering company to use Zimec to relaunch Zambian business
The South African arm of US engineering giant Martin Engineering, Martin Engineering South Africa, is planning to use the upcoming inaugural Zambian International Mining and Energy Conference (Zimec) to relaunch its Zambian business.

Zimec is the first of its kind in the former Southern African powerhouse, which had an economy heavily dependent on the copper riches that the country hosts. The conference will showcase the mining potential in the country as well as the potential for energy-related projects.More:http://www.miningweekly.com/article/engineering-company-to-use-zimec-to-relaunch-zambian-business-2011-06-03

Fantastic updates from Zambia. :cheers:

IMF sees Zambia 2012 GDP growth at 7.4 pct: finmin
Tue Jun 7, 2011
LUSAKA (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is projecting economic growth of 7.4 percent for Zambia in 2012 from 6.8 percent this year, Finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said on Tuesday.

Musokotwane told a news conference the projection was obtained from an IMF document sent to his ministry last week.

"Part of this growth we are seeing is because African countries, including Zambia, are becoming big players in terms of exports," he said.

The IMF had also forecast that Africa's top copper producer would see its exports reach $10 billion in 2011 before rising to $11.5 billion in 2012, he said.

Musokotwane said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Zambia was expected to rise to $1.7 billion in 2012 from $1.5 billion this year, largely driven by investment in mining and infrastructure.

over view of what zccz aplogies this is a 2009 article
Copperbelt zone = Mining , smelters , Manufacturing same with Chambishi Zambia-China Economic and Trade Co-operation Zone.
Zambia China Economic & Trade Cooperation Zone, unveiled by President Hu Jintao, is the first economic zone China has invested in Africa. Currently, the accumulated investment on infrastructure has reached US$ 80 million, and there have been more than 10 enterprises operating in the zone which invested more than US$ 700 million in the zone providing more than 3000 employment. ZCCZ is taking shape and becoming a platform for investors and will no doubt promote the economic growth of Zambia.

Lusaka zone = Manufacturing , light industry
lusaka industrial development zone aka zccz ...the real star is the copperbelt zone one lusaka just started and will be competing with the roma park development zone
construction update nothing exciting to see as most of the stuff done is services and roads bt they've started on some structures + the hitachi stuff and some chinese companies hav been laying foundations
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/Untitled-1-6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/2-4.jpg

over view of what zccz aplogies this is a 2009 article
Copperbelt zone = Mining , smelters , Manufacturing heavy industry aka Chambishi Zambia-China Economic and Trade Co-operation Zone.
Zambia China Economic & Trade Cooperation Zone, unveiled by President Hu Jintao, is the first economic zone China has invested in Africa. Currently, the accumulated investment on infrastructure has reached US$ 80 million, and there have been more than 10 enterprises operating in the zone which invested more than US$ 700 million in the zone providing more than 3000 employment. ZCCZ is taking shape and becoming a platform for investors and will no doubt promote the economic growth of Zambia.

Lusaka zone = Manufacturing , light industry
lusaka industrial development zone aka zccz ...the real star is the copperbelt zone one lusaka just started and will be competing with the roma park development zone
construction update nothing exciting to see as most of the stuff done is services and roads bt they've started on some structures + the hitachi stuff and some chinese companies hav been laying foundations
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/Untitled-1-6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/2-4.jpg

Economic development zones (MFEZ)
Chambishi Zambia-China Economic and Trade Co-operation Zone. mainly chinese goverment active zone
http://zm2.mofcom.gov.cn/articleimage/201105/1305555165490.JPG



Lusaka west zone u/c mixed investment portfolio underconstruction thou some zones are active like the hitachi factory
http://zm2.mofcom.gov.cn/articleimage/201105/1305555204820.JPG

Lusaka East zone aka Roma park, light industry Retail , housing approved local goverment , south africans etc

RB copperbelt bound for ground breaking ceremony for a new cement plant
http://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/07/27/rb-copperbelt-bound-ground-breaking-ceremony-cement-plant/#comment-634105
President Rupiah Banda will on Thursday officiate at the ground breaking ceremony of the US $400m cement plant by Dangote group of Nigeria on the Copperbelt.
The New cement factory by Dangote Industries in Ndola Rural will create one thousand direct jobs and 6 000 indirect jobs once completed.
The plant will also produce one point five metric tonnes of cement.
The President says he is happy to officiate at the ceremony as it shows that his international trips to attract investors are bearing fruit.
This is contained in a statement released to ZNBC News by the President’s for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere.
President Banda says the country is attracting quality and high level investment which is creating jobs for all Zambians.
Mr Banda says the investment has come at a time when his government has prioritised infrastructure development through out the country.
Dangote Group is among several firms which have invested in Zambia following President Banda’s personal initiatives through business fora and international engagements.
Meanwile, President Rupiah Banda has urged MMD adopted candidates to strengthen the party by embracing losing aspiring candidates.
The President says he has met some of the losing aspiring candidates to encourage them so that they do not disappear as the party goes to the polls.
Mr Banda says the MMD will remain focused during the campaign period to ensure that it wins as many parliamentary seats as possible during the general elections.
The President was speaking when he met all the adopted parliamentary candidates at Mulungushi international conference centre on Wednesday.
Mr Banda says he is confident that all the adopted candidates will win their seats and usher the MMD into office for another five year term.
The President says he wants to meet all the adopted candidates prior to the announcement of the election date to discuss matters related to how the campaign will be conducted.
The president says he is also happy that former MMD and Republican Vice President Enock Kavindele is actively supporting the party.
Meanwhile, Electoral Commission of Zambia Legal Counsel Mulubwa Mulenga introduced the MMD adopted candidates on the revised Electoral Code of Conduct.
Ms Mulenga says the revised code of conduct has given power to the commission to reprimand any political party that breaches the electoral code of conduct.
She says the commission has been given power to revoke the accreditation of any polling agent who does not follow the code of conduct.
ZNBC

Chinese auto mobile company to establish an assembly plant in Zambia

A Chinese auto mobile manufacturing company is set to establish an assembly plant in Zambia to service the Southern African region.
Higer China’s top Bus manufacturing company which has an annual production of twenty two thousand buses wants to set up the plant to ease import pressure for the local firms.
Speaking during the launch of the Higer Brand in Zambia, Wu Ming King Long Motors Zambia Limited General Manager the main distributor of Higer Buses in the country says his country will be importing parts and assemble them in the country.
And speaking at the same occasion Chinese Embassy Charge de’ Affairs Liu Zhengje says Zambia has enjoyed good bilateral ties with China for almost ten years now.
Mr. Liu further highlights that China has about three hundred companies which have invested in various sectors of Zambia’s economy.
Meanwhile government is happy over the interest expressed by a Chinese firm to set up the auto mobile assembly plant in Zambia.
Officiating at the event Communications and Transport Permanent Secretary Dominic Sichinga said government is ready to provide land for the plant.
Mr. Sichinga further says the investment will promote economic development.
The communication Permanent Secretary revealed that about one thousand jobs are expected to be created.
He says the move also shows that the recorded economic development is wooing more investments into the country.
MUVI TV
Follow Lus

Great updates hsark! Zambia is really starting to do well. It's really good to see. I sort of grew up there so it's like a second home for me.

Great updates hsark! Zambia is really starting to do well. It's really good to see. I sort of grew up there so it's like a second home for me.

Yes , zambia been doing well for the past 6 years if you consider where the country was in 2000 :ohno: , copper price has helped bt the biggest thing is the country has been politically stable since the 90's and the finances of the country hav. really been well run from the guys at the bank of zambia
still a lot of short comings pot-holes still there(only starting to fix city roads now lusaka , kitwe etc) , lack of empowerment of locals thou the cee has helped bt. more need to be done to help small business in zambia , youth unemployment bt. there is light at the end of tunnel zambia goal is to become a middle income country by 2030 , thou the imf reports we'll get there by 2021....bt to be honest 2030 plan is to empower every1 .....2021 is just on paper

KASEMPA District in North-Western Province is this year set to produce 350,000 by 50 kilogramme bags of maize from the 280,000 bags produced last season, District Commissioner Kadansa Sansakuwa has said.

Mr Sansakuwa said yesterday in an interview that the Government had already released more than K1 billion to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for it to start buying the maize that had already been delivered to selling points.



He said K600 million was already at the National Savings and Credit Bank in Kasempa while K510 million was at Cavmont Bank.

Mr Sansakuwa said farmers would start receiving their money from all the 16 FRA depots in the district.

He said so far the exercise was going on well although the only challenge was inadequate storage which the district agriculture coordinator had been engaged to look at.

Relevant Links
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And when addressing departmental heads, North-Western Province Permanent Secretary Fabian Mumba said he had received reports from all the districts in the province that farmers were sleeping at depots in order to have their maize weighed.

He said that there were accusations that FRA officials were favouring some farmers while others waited for long hours to be attended to. Mr Mumba said there was need for the FRA to move fast and buy all the maize because rain in North-Western Province usually started early.

He promised that he would next week meet all stakeholders to see how the process of buying maize could be expedited because he did not want to see any grain go to waste.

times of zambia

New Tourism Logo

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9995/zambialogo.jpg


INTERNATIONAL bodies such as the United Nations World Tourism Organisation have acknowledged that tourism is the fastest growing industry in the world.
It has therefore, become inevitable that Zambia needed to reposition herself to take advantage of the available opportunities to increase the country’s tourism market share.
Zambia’s tourism potential can best be described as a sleeping tourism giant, as evidenced by the vast land, waters, and wildlife most of which is still in its pristine nature and if tapped, could lead to the country becoming the tourism hub of Southern Africa.
Over the years, Zambia has fared under a pair of slogans namely ‘Zambia in the Sun’ and ‘Zambia the Real Africa.’
A thorough analysis of these slogans revealed that they had not been effective enough in marketing the Zambia’s tourism.
The immediate past slogan-Zambia the real Africa was beginning to work against the effective marketing of Zambia as a favourable tourism destination.
The slogan in itself was an obstacle because just the mention of Africa to the developed world, painted a picture of war, disease, poverty, crime and many other negative perceptions associated to Africa by the developed nations.
Thus it was evident that a new brand with a slogan and logo could aptly describe Zambia accurately to the outside world.
It was because of this that early this year, the Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB), the Tourism Council of Zambia (TCZ), the private sector and other stakeholders set out on an enormous national task by revisiting their strategies on how to market one of nature’s best kept secrets-Zambia’s tourism potential.
After months of speculating about which direction Zambia’s tourism would take, last week, President Rupiah Banda launched the long awaited new slogan and logo for the promotion of Zambia’s tourism-Zambia: Let’s Explore.
This slogan has replaced ‘Zambia the Real Africa’ which has over the last 31 years of its existence proved to have outlived its usefulness.
In giving the keynote address, made on his behalf by Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala, Mr Banda stressed Government’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for private sector investment into Zambia’s tourism industry.
This is because Mr Banda holds a strong view that private sector participation in the industry is crucial for the realisation of the national full tourism potential.
Private sector participation in the industry can boost employment creation, revenue generation, foreign exchange earnings, as well as act as a catalyst for rural development and entrepreneurship.
Tourism is a key sector in Government’s objectives of enhancing economic growth and poverty reduction.
Zambia’s strategy is to diversify the economy from the traditional dependence on copper mining to agriculture, tourism and manufacturing, among others.
Mr Banda said domestic tourism once fully developed, would determine the extent to which the country would succeed in attracting international tourists.
It is the president’s expectation that the launch of the new brand logo and slogan would assist in raising the profile for Zambia as a preferred choice of destination and increase the level of international tourist arrivals from 815,000 to 1,250,000, by 2015.
As a way of boosting the just launched tourism logo and slogan, Mr Banda appointed six Tourism Ambassadors to assist in marketing Zambia’s tourism.
These are Zambian songwriter and musician Marsha Moyo, soccer icon and FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya, and UNZA don Silane Mwenechanya.
Others are Canadian based Zambian musician, geologist and IT specialist Chasaya Sichilima, a Japanese with a long career in the tourism industry Makoto Yamazaki, and senior legal counsel at the World Bank, Kenneth Mwenda.
The tourism ambassador programme is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Tourism and ZTB, created to complement and enhance the promotion and marketing of Zambia as a tourism destination of choice.
Tourism ambassadors are appointed to create an avenue for promoting Zambia’s tourism through personalities of influence who have experienced Zambian tourism and hospitality and have the ability to communicate Zambia’s tourism potential.
The criteria for selection of these individuals was restricted to specifications such as selecting Zambian nationals and others that are internationally recognised and appreciate the value of tourism and can add value to the development of the industry and the country.
The roles of these ambassadors include the use of their status, talent or fame to communicate the Zambian tourism opportunities both locally and internationally.
The tourism ambassadors wear the Tourism Ambassador’s Insignia at the promotional events to identify themselves with Zambia, which means that the tourism ambassador shall be a lifetime appointment.
Mr Banda reiterated that tourism will remain a key sector in enhancing economic growth and is an effective tool for poverty reduction, hence Government would not relent in its efforts in creating conditions that would make the industry competitive, viable and sustainable.
He said the newly launched tourism brand would reposition Zambia to become a compelling and competitive destination of choice.
“In this respect I would like to implore the minister of Tourism, to aggressively market the Zambian tourism brand in both the domestic and international markets to increase awareness. I would like to invite my fellow countrymen to take ownership of this national effort to take ownership of this initiative of selling the Zambian brand,” Mr Banda said.
“I am informed by experts that a brand is an ‘unwritten contract’ to deliver service and product. A brand directs marketing strategies that are employed in marketing a product or service.
“For a brand to be recognised on the market, therefore, it must be consistently supported by marketing programmes to make it resonate with its target market,” he said.
The dynamics of a global world is such that change is inevitable, and one such area that required change was Zambia’s tourism promotion, which evidently needed to be re-branded under a more effective slogan and logo, to boost the much needed tourism inflow.
In February this year, the ZTB, TCZ and the Ministry of Tourism partnered with the private sector to set up a competition to encourage public participation in the adoption of a new tourism brand for Zambia.
This was because besides the K3 billion set aside by the Government for the marketing of Zambia’s tourism, there was still a deficit of between US$ 500,000 to $1 million to engage private marketing consultants and agencies to carry out market surveys, and ultimately come up with a new brand logo and slogan.
These enormous costs were not so easy for Zambia to set aside and that is why the country embarked on crowd sourcing, which involved the use of internet based social interactive networks such as face book, twitter, and others.
The print and electronic media were engaged to reach out to the public to participate in a K140 million worth of tourism safari slogan and logo competition that the country would eventually adopt as the new flag carrier for Zambia’s tourism.
This competition came to an end, and the top 10 slogans were finally narrowed down to five then one which stood out-Zambia: Let’s Explore was picked as the new slogan, for Zambia’s vast untapped tourism potential.
A new logo was similarly adopted. With such innovativeness, it is hoped that Zambia will now place itself firmly on the world tourism map.
Short URL: http://ukzambians.co.uk/home/?p=15128

Emirates to launch Zambia and Zimbabwe service from feb 2012


by JL
Emirates from 01FEB12 will launch service to Zambia and Zimbabwe, where it’ll offer 5 weekly Dubai – Lusaka – Harare service on board 3-class Airbus A330-200.
The schedule was loaded in the past 15 minutes (as of 0915GMT) into the GDS. Reservation to general public will be open shortly.
Schedule:

EK713 DXB0925 – 1450LUN1620 – 1720HRE 332 x46
EK714 HRE1920 – 2020LUN2150 – 0710+1DXB 332 x46

Zambeef helped by growing Zambian economy
StockMarketWire.com - Zambeef, the agri-business with operations in Zambia, Nigeria and Ghana, expects turnover and net profit performance for the full year to be in line withmarket expectations.

Trading conditions over the financial year have continued to improve, with demand for all product lines increasing, driven largely by the continued expansion of the Zambian economy, which is currently growing at more than 7 per cent. per annum. More: http://www.stockmarketwire.com/article/4237403/Zambeef-helped-by-growing-Zambian-economy.html

25000940

Why African economies including Zambia are outpacing the UK’s
Zambia, whose footballers won the Africa Cup of Nations last month, is storming the economic league too.Read the full story here (http://www.ukzambians.co.uk/home/2012/03/20/why-african-economies-including-zambia-are-outpacing-the-uks/)

Zambia’s May inflation up to 6.7 %, Trade Surplus more than doubles from K129.6 billion to K278.3 billion
Lusaka Times (http://www.lusakatimes.com/2012/06/28/zambias-inflation-67-trade-surplus-doubles-k1296-billion-k2783-billion/)


Inflation for the month of June as compiled by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) has slightly increased to 6.7% from 6.6 % in May, 2012.

CSO Director, John Kalumbi, disclosed this during the presentation of the Monthly CSO Bulletin held at Savoy Hotel in Ndola today.

Mr Kalumbi attributed the rise in inflation to increase in the prices of some food items between the months of May and June.

He said the annual inflation derived from the revised all items Consumer Price Index for June stands at 6.7 % from 6.6 % in May.

Meanwhile, Zambia recorded a trade surplus valued at K278.3 billion in May, 2012 compared to K129.6 billion recorded in April, 2012.

Mr Kalumbi explained that in nominal terms, the country exported more than it imported during the same period.

He noted that since 2012, the country has been recording a monthly trade surplus with the highest valued at K351.2billion recorded in January.

Mr Kalumbi disclosed that the country’s major exports in May were mainly metals and their articles which accounted for 79.4 per cent of the total exports for the two months.

Zambia to introduce policy measure to stop foreign companies externalising all their earnings-Chikwanda
Lusaka Times (http://www.lusakatimes.com/2012/06/27/zambia-introduce-policy-measure-stop-foreign-companies-externalising-earningschikwanda/)


GOVERNMENT will introduce policy measures to stop companies from externalising all their export earnings, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has said.

Mr Chikwanda announced in Parliament yesterday that the move would help create a conducive environment for both investors and Zambians.

He said the MMD administration erred during its reign to allow investors, especially in the mining sector, to externalise all export earnings, placing the country at a disadvantage in terms of benefitting from exports.

He was responding to concerns raised by Sinazongwe Member of Parliament, Richwell Siamunene (UPND), on what measures Government was taking to ensure that not all profits were externalised.

“We are in the process of enforcing policy to ensure that export companies including the mines do not externalise all their export earnings.

He said total earnings from copper, cobalt and gold exports during the interval March 2009 to February this year hit more than US$18.2 million.

He said among other measures to help boost mining performance in contributing to the treasury, was the already implemented mineral royalty tax increased from three per cent to six per cent, adding that this was sufficient to help bring about development.


The other measure was to strengthen capacity of monitoring and ensure that all taxes related to mining were adhered to.

Mr Chikwanda said the taxes would help the country to improve infrastructure, social amenity provision and help boost the performance of other sectors such as the processing industries.

The government of Zambia takes charge over the national railway system:

ZRL takes charge as Zambian concession revoked

13 September 2012

ZAMBIA: State-owned holding company Zambia Railways Ltd resumed control of the national rail network on September 11, following the government’s decision to revoke the operating concession awarded to Railway Systems of Zambia Ltd in 2003.

Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda had announced on September 10 that the government had decided on ‘compulsory acquisition’ of the concession rights, claiming that RSZ had ‘blatantly disregarded the provisions of the agreement’, and had been ‘acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of Zambians’.

RSZ had been awarded a 20-year concession to operate freight services on the ZR network connecting the Copperbelt mining region near the DR Congo border to the Zimbabwean border at Victoria Falls, along with a seven-year concession to run passenger trains. Chikwanda said a failure to invest in the maintenance and renewal of both infrastructure and rolling stock, had led to deterioration of the state-owned assets, an ‘unacceptable’ level of derailments and poor safety, including loss of life and property. Increased tariffs and the poor quality of service had seen a significant drop in rail use, with much traffic switching to road.

ZRL Managing Director Knox Karima told a board meeting on September 11 that the company would absorb the 900 staff employed by RSZ, and would embark on renovation work ‘within the next two weeks’. Control would be transferred back from Lusaka to the former railway headquarters at Kabwe, he added.

Insisting that ‘we shall not disappoint and we shall not fail’, Karima told the Times of Zambia that the government’s decision was ‘not political but economic’, as the country needed a functioning rail network to support economic development. Measures were being put in place to prevent railway assets being removed from the country, and he said arrangements would be made to return two locomotives from DR Congo and another two from Zimbabwe.

Insisting that there would be ‘business as usual’ during a ‘smooth’ transition phase, Karima pledged that service to customers would not be affected. Nevertheless, the concessionaire would have still to meet any contractual obligations that it had entered into with suppliers. Chikwanda confirmed that the government would provide the resources needed to support the continuing operation and rehabilitation of the rail network.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/policy-legislation/single-view/view/zrl-takes-charge-as-zambian-concession-revoked.html

President Michael Sata says he is happy with the massive support the investor community has rendered towards the achievement of Zambia's first sovereign bond of US$750 million.

And the President has said his administration will continue to value foreign investment and will do everything within its power to safeguard the investment climate.

Mr Sata said "a clean investment has no reason to fear Zambia."
The President commended the team led by Finance Deputy Minister, Miles Sampa for its unique sense of duty and commitment, stating that the group went on a road show to sell the bond and were thoroughly prepared for the task.

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah said in a statement yesterday that Mr Sata was happy with the confidence placed in Zambia by financial houses in America, Europe and Asia, which resulted in the bond realisation of $750 million, far beyond the $500 million which was originally envisaged.

"The achievement of the first bond being oversubscribed establishes Zambia as a very credible investment destination and that our country has a vibrant future," Mr Sata said.

He said the outcome was a credit to the people of Zambia who were the architects of unity, peace and stability that the country's development prospects were firmly anchored on.

The team led by Mr Sampa included Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary for Economic Management, Felix Nkulukusa and Bank of Zambia (BoZ) Deputy Governor for Operations, Bwalya Ng'andu.

Others were BoZ Senior Economist, Douglas Kalamatila, Principal Legal Counsel in the Justice Ministry, Ulaya Musonda, and Francis Chipimo and Mukuli Chikuba from the Ministry of Finance.

PRESIDENT Michael Sata is today expected to unveil a K27 trillion road project dubbed "Link Zambia-8000' intended to connect outlying areas of Zambia to all the 10 provinces and boost interlink trade.
The development affirms the Patriotic Front's manifestation of a transformation of the country's transport network.

Recently, the Government revoked the Railway Systems of Zambia concession agreement to run the railway line and revealed plans to inject US$120 million to resuscitate the railway transport sector.

Another related road programme was the signing of the K1.7 trillion road facelift for Lusaka, which would cover 400 km of road network, between the Road Development Agency (RDA) and China's AVIC International.
The RDA has also announced the planned transformation of the Lusaka to Kapiri Mposhi Road into a dual carriageway and has completed the detailed design of the dual carriageway between Kitwe and Chingola.

In view of the plans, RDA warned that all structures that had been erected on road reserves along the stretches earmarked for the construction of the dual carriageway would be demolished without compensation.

The "Link Zambia-8000' project would be carried out over a five-year period and would result in construction of 2,290 km of road network at an estimated cost of K7.9 trillion in the first phase of the project.
The second phase would cover 3,049 km of road network to cost K11.25 trillion while in the third phase, 2,862 km would be upgraded at a cost of K9 trillion.

The project would connect outlying areas to major trunk, main and district roads in the provinces and transform the country into a land-linked country.

Mr Sata would also commission the starting of the construction of the Lusaka-Leopards Hill Road project via Chiawa to Chirundu District

THE construction of a K450 billion Zambian Breweries(ZB) high tech plant in Ndola, the largest single investment outside the mining industry, is expected to be completed in November this year,

Zambian Breweries Plc corporate affairs director Luke Njovu has said.
In an interview in Lusaka, Mr Njovu said the one million hecto litre high-tech plant once completed, would become the biggest brewery in the country and one of the largest investments outside of the extractive industries.

He said the firm was expected to start its production at the new plant in November this year and was aimed at addressing the challenges in the supply of clear lager beer.

"The Ndola plant is very old and most of the production is coming from the Lusaka plant and currently, the market has been under-served and we cannot risk going into the festive season with the current low volumes and our plan is to have the plant on stream before the festive season and that, what we are working hard to deliver the plant on time," he said.

Mr Njovu said "Looking at the investment in totality of US$90 million (About K450 billion) and coming into that area is a significant investment and we are very excited because when you look at the economic aspect of it out of the extractive industries, it is a proper manufacturing plant with value addition and the supply chain itself will be enormous.

"We are looking at imports that are coming from the agriculture sector and so the multiplier effect is going to be huge and it is going to bring additional skills to that area."

Mr Njovu said more than 20 high skilled jobs would be created for the local people, saying the company was not going to reduce on any employment numbers.

Private sector in Zambia lauds China's duty free export offer

LUSAKA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The private sector in Zambia on Friday welcomed China's decision to offer duty free access of Zambian products to the Asian country's market, saying this will provide Zambia with a wider market choice, an industry official said.

On Wednesday, Zambia and China signed four economic partnership agreements, including duty free treatment of 95 percent tariff lines for Zambian products. Under the agreement, Zambian exporters will enjoy duty free exports to China of up to 95 percent from the current 60 percent.

Close to 8,000 Zambian products will benefit from this preferential duty.
Yusuf Dodia, the chairperson of the Private Sector Development Association (PSDA), a lobby group for private sector players in the country, said the move is welcomed because Zambia's predominant export markets had been the European Union (EU) and South Africa.

"It is a very welcome development for Zambia because traditionally our export market for products has been to South Africa and the EU. Currently, the EU is going through some economic challenges and the opening up of China means that Zambia will now have alternate market for exporting products," he said in a telephone interview.

According to him, the huge market in China will be able to offer Zambian products a ready market, adding it also provides better competition for Zambia's export markets and urges the private sector in the country to utilize the huge Chinese market.

He however hoped the Chinese government will not impose non- tariff barriers which affect Zambian products from penetrating the United States market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) duty free offer.

"The demand for phytosanitary requirements for our agricultural products resulted in Zambia's agriculture products failing to penetrate the American market and we hope that this will not be the case with China," he added.
The official has further asked financial lending institutions to partner with the private sector in order to build their capacity so that they can be able to produce enough products to cater for the Chinese market.

"We are also appealing to the Bank of China which has an office in Zambia to be proactive in promoting Zambian exports to China," he said.

Zambia, Greece seal air service deal


LUSAKA, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Zambia has signed a bilateral air services agreement with Greece aimed at establishing and operating scheduled air services between the two countries, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Thursday.

The agreement grants the two parties the right to conduct scheduled international air services by designated airlines.

Zambia's Ambassador to Italy Frank Mutubila, who signed on behalf of the southern African nation, said the agreement will encourage reciprocity in terms of exempt from, among other things, import restrictions, customs duties, excise duties, inspection fees and other national taxes.
The deal will also encourage reciprocity in duties and charges on aircraft, fuel, lubrication oils, consumables technical supplies and spare parts, he added.

He further said the agreement is the beginning of a long- lasting relationship of mutual benefit for the two countries, adding that the air services agreement will not only benefit Zambia but also her eight neighboring countries.

Greek's Secretary General for Transport of the Ministry for Development and Networks Nikos Stathopoulos, who signed on behalf of his country, said the agreement signed provides an opportunity to create a framework of cooperation in the air transport sector that will be to the advantage of both countries.

"It is important to emphasize economic relations between Zambia and Greece because of the economic benefits that will accrue. The air services agreement is one of the best ways of cooperating in today's competitive air transport systems in the world," he was quoted as saying by the paper.

Five foreign firms eye Zambia’s mobile phone sector
LUSAKA, Jan. 8 — A senior Zambian government official said on Tuesday that five foreign firms had shown interest in investing in the provision of mobile phone services, since the government expressed willingness to open the country’s mobile phone sector for more companies to come last year.

Minister of Communications and Transport Christopher Yaluma said the government had been talking to some companies that had shown interest in investing in the sector once it is opened up.Read more (http://www.nzweek.com/business/five-foreign-firms-eye-zambias-mobile-phone-sector-41497/)

over view of what zccz aplogies this is a 2009 article
Copperbelt zone = Mining , smelters , Manufacturing heavy industry aka Chambishi Zambia-China Economic and Trade Co-operation Zone.
Zambia China Economic & Trade Cooperation Zone, unveiled by President Hu Jintao, is the first economic zone China has invested in Africa. Currently, the accumulated investment on infrastructure has reached US$ 80 million, and there have been more than 10 enterprises operating in the zone which invested more than US$ 700 million in the zone providing more than 3000 employment. ZCCZ is taking shape and becoming a platform for investors and will no doubt promote the economic growth of Zambia.

Lusaka zone = Manufacturing , light industry
lusaka industrial development zone aka zccz ...the real star is the copperbelt zone one lusaka just started and will be competing with the roma park development zone
construction update nothing exciting to see as most of the stuff done is services and roads bt they've started on some structures + the hitachi stuff and some chinese companies hav been laying foundations
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/Untitled-1-6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/2-4.jpg

Economic development zones (MFEZ)
Chambishi Zambia-China Economic and Trade Co-operation Zone. mainly chinese goverment active zone
http://zm2.mofcom.gov.cn/articleimage/201105/1305555165490.JPG



Lusaka west zone u/c mixed investment portfolio underconstruction thou some zones are active like the hitachi factory
http://zm2.mofcom.gov.cn/articleimage/201105/1305555204820.JPG

Lusaka East zone aka Roma park, light industry Retail , housing approved local goverment , south africans etc

update?

Zambia Railways launch a midweek train service from Livingstone to Lusaka
http://www.lusakatimes.com/2013/02/01/zambia-railways-launch-a-midweek-train-service-from-livingstone-to-lusaka/

ZRL masterplan uplifting
http://www.times.co.zm/?p=29391

Zambia registers 2.3 bln USD investment pledges in first quarter

LUSAKA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Zambia registered an increase in investment (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-04/30/c_132350793.htm#) pledges in the first quarter of this year from the same period of last year, with its total surpassing 2.3 billion U. S. dollars, the country's investment agency reported on Tuesday.

The southern African nation saw 64.4 percent of the investment pledges in the first quarter due to its suitable investment climate, the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) said in the report.

According to the report, more than 2.31 billion dollars in investment pledges were registered, compared with over 1.39 billion dollars recorded in the first three months of last year. Margaret Chimanse, the organization's public relations manager, said the real estate sector registered the highest amount of pledged investments (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-04/30/c_132350793.htm#), followed by energy, tourism and manufacturing sectors.

The impressive increase in investment pledges in the first quarter of the year, she said, could be attributed to increased investor confidence resulting from the government's commitment to reduce (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-04/30/c_132350793.htm#) the cost of doing business.

On Monday, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Emmanuel Chenda said the confidence shown by investors in the country's policy direction and national stability was justified because the government had maintained attractive macro-economic fundamentals.

Investor confidence in Zambia justified

LUSAKA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The confidence shown by investors in Zambia's policy direction and national stability is justified because the government has maintained attractive macro-economic fundamentals, the Times of Zambia reported on Monday.

Last week, an international sovereign and credit rating agency, Standard and Poor's Rating, affirmed its B+ long and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-04/29/c_132349460.htm#) on Zambia on account of stable promising investment prospects in the mining sector, positive economic growth trends, moderate government debt (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-04/29/c_132349460.htm#) and a robust external balance sheet.

This came on the heel of optimisms expressed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on the country's economic prospects and the strides it was undertaking.

Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Emmanuel Chenda told the Zambian newspaper that the southern African country had become a more attractive destination for foreign direct investment (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-04/29/c_132349460.htm#) (FDI) and that investors the world over wanted to invest in the country because the government had worked hard to develop positive macro- economic fundamentals.

"This investor confidence isn't coming from without. Today, Zambia stands as an attractive destination for investment because of government's commitment in developing macro-economic fundamentals for people to set up value addition ventures," he was quoted as saying.
The Zambian minister however said his government would ensure that it maintains a single-digit inflation rate and steady annual gross domestic product (GDP) and foster the growth of a liberal economy by developing industrial clusters and multi-facility economic zones to further boost investor confidence.

Zambia, France pledge to boost information cooperation

LUSAKA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Zambia and France (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-04/26/c_132343011.htm#) have pledged to strengthen cooperation in the information sector for the benefit of the two countries, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Friday.

Zambia's Minister of Information and Broadcasting Kennedy Sakeni said the southern African nation would like to see the cooperation in the information sector developed further because the country appreciates the support it has continued to receive from France.

In remarks delivered when France's Ambassador to Zambia Annick Bourdin visited his office, the Zambian minister further said his government appreciates the support it receives from France in the development of the media industry but called for increased collaboration.

On his part, the France envoy said his country values its cooperation with Zambia in enhancing the flow of information between the two countries and announced that France is keen to strengthen technical cooperation between Canal France International and Zambia's state broadcaster. She said France is ready to share with Zambia the experiences and lessons learnt in the digital migration process.

The Zambian government recently announced that it shelved plans to migrate from terrestrial analogue broadcasting to digital from this year to next year due to hurdles it needs to sort out.

Rating agency reaffirms Zambia's B+ rating

LUSAKA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- An international sovereign and credit rating agency, Standard and Poor's Rating, has affirmed its B+ long and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-04/26/c_132343008.htm#) on Zambia, the Times of Zambia reported on Friday.

"The outlook is stable. Our transfer and convertibility assessment of Zambia remains B+," the agency was quoted as saying by the paper in a statement released from Germany.

The agency gave Zambia the B+ rating last year, which the southern African nation used as a ladder to issue its debut Eurobond.

The international sovereign and credit rating agency said the ratings were supported by promising investment prospects in the mining sector, positive economic growth trends, moderate general government debt (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-04/26/c_132343008.htm#), and a robust external balance sheet.

The agency has however warned that some policy measures, largely non-anticipated, had increased uncertainties regarding the future economic policy framework.

The measures include the mandatory use of local currency in domestic transactions, introduction of an interest rate (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-04/26/c_132343008.htm#) cap on lending by commercial banks and increased capital requirements for commercial banks.
On Wednesday, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed optimism about the positive economic strides that Zambia was making.

Good News! Zambia

PhilPhos enters Zambia
http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/05/08/939506/philphos-enters-zambia

“PhilPhos is proud to announce that we are the first Filipino fertilizer company to export to the African continent,” Salvador B. Zamora II, chairman of PhilPhos said. PhilPhos sees this expansion as beneficial to both the company and Zambia.

Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp. (PhilPhos), the country’s leading producer of phosphatic fertilizers, has successfully entered Zambia, an untapped Southern African market, and recently exported around P400 million worth of phosphate fertilizers amounting to four percent of the company’s total exports this year. The country’s first outstanding foray outside the Asian continent was when it successfully entered the Latin American continent, particularly the country of Brazil, in 2007.

With a capacity of around 1,170,000 million tons of nitrogen phosphate (NP)/nitrogen phosphate potassium (NPK) fertilizers and 170,000 tons of ammosul, Philphos exports around 65 percent of its total production outside the Philippines, particularly in the ASEAN countries of Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia as well as to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Taiwan.