Israel State visit satisfies Lungu

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 12:15:24 +0000

By OSCAR MALIPENGA

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is very satisfied with the outcome of his four and half days State visit to Israel.

Special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda explained that President Lungu was accorded a full State visit by the government of Israel.

Addressing a press briefing at State House yesterday, Mr. Chanda said President Lungu held meetings with the President of Israel, the Prime Minister and other ministers of the Israeli government.

Mr. Chanda said the visit was extremely successful and that the Government was very proud of what the President had achieved in the four and half days State visit to Israel.

“The President has made significant progress in re-escalating and re-establishing the relationship between Zambia and Israel which regrettably went into recess from 1973 to 1993 when the relationship between the two countries broke down.

“The President has made major gains in promoting economic ties apart from political ties between the State of Israel and Zambia,” he said.

Mr. Chanda said of critical importance was that Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya would explain four medical missions which would be on their way to Zambia to collaborate with the Zambian government in critical areas of the health sector.

He also stated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba would give a full ministerial statement to Parliament in due course to explain the full extent and the details of the outcome.

Mr. Chanda said Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya would also be giving a press briefing on it.

“There is a landmark agreement regarding the cooperation between Zambia and Israel to develop agriculture as a business. The MoU and other documents are due to be signed this week between the government of Israel and the government of Zambia, the Attorney General is looking through.

“That is meant to improve agriculture and boost food production in selected areas. All those details will be in a full ministerial statement,” Mr. Chanda said.

He said a Business Forum took place between the Chambers of Commerce of Zambia and of Israel, companies and private sector collaboration where President Lungu gave a keynote address.

Mr. Chanda said Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margret Mwanakatwe took the centre stage during the Forum as the Minister of Water and Sanitation Lloyd Kaziya and his Tourism counterpart Charles Banda also explained the benefits regarding their ministries.

Mr. Chanda said the President of Israel and the Prime Minister expressed hope that in due course they would be considering a reciprocal State visit to Zambia.

“The President is very satisfied with the outcome of the visit to Israel,” Mr. Chanda explained.