Entrepreneurship vital in job creation- Mwanakatwe

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 10:14:30 +0000

By MAILESI BANDA

ZAMBIA needs to foster a culture of entrepreneurship in order to develop the economy, Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Margret Mwanakatwe has said.

The minister said entrepreneurship was significant in the economic development of the country.

Speaking during a fundraising meeting for the Entrepreneurship Association of Zambia meant to raise funds to empower youth in entrepreneurship, Ms Mwanakaktwe said Government recognised unemployment in the country as a serious challenge among the youths, adding that entrepreneurship could create the much needed jobs among young people.

Ms Mwanakatwe said Government was committed to ensuring that it created a conducive business and investment environment for the local entrepreneurs in the country.

“We are creating a conducive business and investment environment that promotes inclusive participation in the economy by our local entrepreneurs so that they can be self-employed and contribute to job creation in the country,” she said.

She cited the garments, textile and agro processing industries as the sectors with massive opportunities for the entrepreneurs in the country.

She said policies had been put in place by Government to enhance industrialisation, job and wealth creation.

“Increased participation of the micro, small and medium enterprises in Zambia would change the economic status of the country,” she observed.

She stated that Government could not achieve economic growth without the participation of its citizens and the various stakeholders.