By NATION REPORTER
LEGISLATION to compel foreign investors to partner with Zambians in the manufacturing sector is being formulated, Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Chipoka Mulenga has said.
Mr Mulenga said this was to ensure locals dominate the manufacturing industry.
Mr Mulenga said for a long time, Zambians had been exploited as most trade and investment agreements had benefited foreign players at the expense of locals.
Speaking on Millennium Radio’s Interview Program yesterday, Mr Mulenga said government wanted to ensure that the local manufacturing industry is expanded so that the country was not import dependent.
And Mr Mulenga indicated that government was committed to ensuring the cost of doing business is lowered through the introduction of one licensing policy and abolishment of unnecessary taxes.
“We are going to sign deals that will benefit all Zambians. As minister of trade I’m going to revisit the policies that do not benefit Zambians. Not like the situation in the past where foreigners were operating small shops like tuntembas,” he said.
He said under the Ministry of Commerce it was not his vision to close non performing companies but that they would engage them to find out a lasting solution.
Mr Mulenga said that most Zambians were not trading freely in places like Kasumbalesa border because of the high taxes that were put in place.
He however said that they would enhance trade in order for Zambians to recoup profits in the trade industry.
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