Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga, has assured Zambia’s business community that the current challenging economic times will pass.
Officially flagging off the 2024 edition of the Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Ndola today, Mulenga observed that as long as the business community works together, the economy will grow and businesses will thrive.
“Businesses cannot die. This is the time we should even come together and strengthen our businesses or economic opportunities, potential, and abilities to grow this economy,” he said. “I can assure you that it is just a phase; it will pass, but it will pass only if we can work together as one Zambia, one nation, even through [our] business engagements.”
He said the government hopes that this year’s Trade Fair will initiate more collaborations in trade to spur Zambia’s economic development.
“I really hope that this Trade Fair will be unique and different, a time when nobody will point fingers at another but come together and do something different in developing our economy collectively,” he implored.
Mulenga emphasized the significance of this year’s Trade Fair, in the year Zambia celebrates her 60th Independence anniversary, seeing it as presenting an avenue for the business community to collaborate and contribute to the country’s growth.
The 2024 ZITF is themed “Unlocking Economic Potential through Collaboration and Partnerships”.
“This year’s Trade Fair is very important to us because it is in the year we are celebrating 60 years of political independence. So, it is a year when we should also make declarations on how to grow our own economic potential into a reality through working together with small and medium enterprises,” Mulenga said.
He has encouraged businesses to work together, especially during the current drought, which has necessitated economic cooperation.
“On behalf of the President, allow me to encourage every business community to work together even as we go through this time of drought and disaster.”
Accompanying Mulenga at the flagging-off occasion was the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Elias Mubanga.
Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi will officially open the Trade Fair as Guest of Honor on Saturday, June 28, in the company of President Hakainde Hichilema.
