Lungu urges concerted efforts in dealing with global economic downturn

Republican President Edgar Lungu says government looks forward to working with various countries to address the global economic downturn and climate change.

The Head of State said this at State House this morning when he received credentials from Ambassadors and High Commissioners designated to Zambia from Bangladesh, Chile, Hungary, Ireland, Swaziland, Sweden and European Union (EU).

President Lungu says Zambia has not been spared with the effects of the global economic downturn and climate change, which have manifested themselves in the domestic economy, as well as the energy deficit being experience in the country.

He hopes that the focus of Zambia’s relations with these countries will continue to be, the increase of the levels of political and economic interactions for the mutual benefit of the countries.

President Lungu says given that Chile is the world’s largest copper producer, there is need to rekindle the cooperation in the management of the copper industry, as well as, in developing the value addition chain that will see the minerals being processed in the Zambia.

He adds that he recognizes that Bangladesh is a major agricultural producer and has one of the largest financial industries in South Asia and that Zambia, in its endeavor to diversify its economy from depending on copper to other sectors such as agriculture and tourism, will tap into Bangladesh’s expertise on economic diversification.

And the Head of State says the European Union has been, and continues to be a vital cooperating partner in Zambia’s development process in areas such as energy, agriculture, trade and governance.

The Ambassadors and High Commissioners who presented their credentials include; Shabbir Chowdhury from Bangaldesh, Carlos Parker from Chile, Andras Keraly of Hungary, Seamus O’Grady from Ireland.

Others are Chief Senzangakona Dlamini from Swaziland, Henrik Cederin from Sweden and Alessandro Mariani from the European Union (EU).