Exploit German market, Zambian firms told

Sun, 17 Sep 2017 08:56:51 +0000

By AARON CHIYANZO

THE business sector in Zambia should take advantage of opportunities in the non-traditional market in Germany, The Zambian embassy in Germany has advised.

In a statement, charge d’ Affaires at the embassy, Theresa Kimena said Zambian could export precious stones, floriculture, sugar, honey, cotton, coffee, tobacco and artifacts to Germany.

Ms Kimena pointed out that possibilities were immense for any Zambian entrepreneur who wished to go into nontraditional exports to Germany.

She noted that the government had created an enabling environment through the 7th National Development Plan and economic diplomacy for any business person to expand into sectors beyond copper mining.

“The possibilities are immense for any Zambian entrepreneur who wishes to go into nontraditional exports. Government has created an enabling environment through the 7th National Development Plan and Economic Diplomacy for any business person to expand into sectors beyond copper mining.” Ms Kimena said.

Ms Kimena called on the business sector to interact with foreign missions and relevant government ministries and departments regularly to remain abreast of developments at a global level.

She reiterated that the thrust of activities of embassies was trade and the economy in line with the government’s realignment of diplomacy from political to economic diplomacy.

Ms Kimena said that statistics as recent as the last quarter in the trade sector indicated a trade deficit in favour of Germany.

She pointed out that Zambia’s exports to Germany stood at K3.7 million for July as compared to K5.7 million in June. Ms Kimena said that on the other hand, imports from Germany stood at K41.4 million and K87.2 million respectively for June and July.

Ms Kimena expressed confidence that Zambia’s trade relations with Germany were set to improve as interactions between the business sectors of the two countries were increasing. Ms Kimena said that a business forum recently took place in Zambia where several German companies met their counterparts in Lusaka to discuss areas of possible cooperation.