President Hakainde Hichilema has called for a major increase in British investment in Zambia, telling visiting United Kingdom Trade Commissioner for Africa Alastair Long that the two countries’ decades-old ties should now be turned into projects that create jobs. Mr Hichilema…

President Hakainde Hichilema has called for a major increase in British investment in Zambia, telling visiting United Kingdom Trade Commissioner for Africa Alastair Long that the two countries’ decades-old ties should now be turned into projects that create jobs.

Mr Hichilema said the partnership should be anchored in clean energy, agriculture, mining and other priority areas under the Grow Zambia Agenda. He received Mr Long at State House in Lusaka.

The President said British investment should move beyond traditional areas of cooperation, with renewable energy, agriculture and mining where the openings lie. He said Zambia has created a more predictable and investor-friendly business environment and is ready to translate its historic relationship with the UK into projects on the ground.

He also thanked the UK for its support during the country’s debt restructuring process. Then he put the invitation plainly.

“We would like to sit with the Brits to see what we can do. You already know the market here as British investors. Let’s exploit the relationship more,” the President said.

He said the Government is working to improve the business environment and attract more investment into various economic sectors. The Head of State reaffirmed Zambia’s long-standing friendship with the UK, which he said rests on mutual respect and shared values of democracy and the rule of law.

He closed with an appreciation of Britain’s backing for the agenda.

“We appreciate the UK’s support for our Grow Zambia Agenda and look forward to deeper co-operation in trade and investment to create jobs and shared prosperity,” he said.

Mr Long arrived with a message of support. He endorsed the agenda, said the UK will complement it, and pledged to personally help attract British investors to the country.

He said the UK wants a share in the effort.

“We much appreciate your clear vision, sir, expressed in your Grow Zambia initiative. We want to be as much a partner in that,” he said.

The UK, Mr Long said, is a long-standing partner of Zambia, with bilateral relations and investment partnerships dating back to the 1990s. He described himself as proud of that record.

He said Britain is implementing various initiatives, including the Zambia Green Growth Strategy. Under that framework, it committed US$1.5 billion through the Green Growth Compact, with support reaching sectors such as energy.

Mr Long spoke at the end of a four-day visit. He called Zambia one of Africa’s most exciting investment destinations, citing its growth plans, natural resources and openings for the private sector.

He said he had seen the determination to turn ambition into action, particularly in expanding power generation, growing the mining sector and increasing agricultural productivity. He put it in his own words.

“During this visit, I have seen first-hand the determination to turn ambition into action,” he said.

The UK is committed to working with Zambia through investment, expertise and long-term commercial partnerships that create value, jobs and opportunities in both countries, he said.

The sectors named at State House line up with the targets set under the Grow Zambia Agenda. Those include 10,000 megawatts of electricity, 10 million tonnes of maize and three million tonnes of copper, alongside five million tourist arrivals and US$1 billion in beef exports.

The same agenda is now before Parliament. Speaker Nelly Mutti told the 14th National Assembly that every Bill and every budget must answer one question: does it grow Zambia?

Mr Hichilema urged law-makers to enact laws that advance the agenda, which he said is for jobs, for the country’s people and its young people. He explained where the Government now stands.

“When we took office, recovery of the economy was our priority, stabilising the economy, second priority, now we are in the growth priority area and Parliament’s own business and activities must support the Grow Zambia Agenda,” the President said.

He said all arms of Government should work in line with the growth agenda, calling it a shared responsibility.

The next opening for investors is already fixed. The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) will host the second Invest-Zambia International Conference in Lusaka from December 9 to 11, with a target of more than US$5 billion in investment and deals.