Lungu calls for enhanced trade with Addis

Thu, 30 Mar 2017 10:52:36 +0000

By OSCAR MALIPENGA

ZAMBIA and Ethiopia have signed two agreements in the fields of communication, information, media and water resource management, irrigation and energy.

The two governments have also signed a memorandum of understanding between the Zambia Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations.

The two agreements and one memorandum of understanding were signed yesterday after President Edgar Lungu and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn held bilateral talks at State House.

Speaking earlier before witnessing the agreements being signed, President Lungu said Zambia and Ethiopia enjoyed cordial relations premised on common values, liberty, peace, prosperity and the general well-being of the two peoples.

President Lungu said enhanced trade relations between Zambia and Ethiopia would benefit the people of the two countries.

“Allow me to express sympathy to you and the people of Ethiopia on the people who lost their lives on the outskirts of Addis Ababa,” he said.

President Lungu said Zambia was committed to enhancing bilateral agreements with the Ethiopian government.

The Head of State also told the Prime Minister that he looks forward to going to Addis Ababa and also looking forward to a peaceful and stable Africa.

The agreement in the field of communication, information and media was signed by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Kampamba Mulenga and Ethiopian Minister of Government Communications Dr. Negeri Lencho.

Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Lloyd Kaziya and Ethiopian Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity Dr. Seleshi Bekele signed the agreement in the field of water resource management, irrigation and energy on behalf of their respective governments.

Meanwhile, the MoU between the two chambers of commerce was signed by ZACCI vice president Andrew Sinyangwe and Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce president Elias Geneti.

Ms Mulenga explained to journalists that the agreement would see an exchange of programmes between the Zambian public media and that of Ethiopia.

She said staff in her ministry would be travelling to Ethiopia to learn local content and be able to exchange with Zambian content.

And Mr Sinyangwe said the agreement would see enhanced trade between Zambia and Ethiopia. He said for long time now trade between the two countries had not been significant.

Mr. Sinyangwe said Ethiopia had big leather and coffee industries from which Zambia could benefit.