Zambia-South Africa Business Council launched in SA

Margaret Mwanakatwe and South Africa’s Minister for Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu

The Zambia-South Africa Business Council (ZSABC) has been launched in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Formed under the auspices of the Zambian High Commission in South Africa, the body aims at promoting investment and trade between the two countries and to advocate quick resolution of disputes and barriers.

And officiating at the launch, Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe, and South Africa’s Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu agreed that it is time for Zambia and South Africa to scale up their relations from political to business cooperation if the economic status of the people of the two countries is to improve.

The event which attracted an impressive crowd from those who have already invested in Zambia, potential investors and various interest groups from both Zambia and South Africa was described by many as a befitting signal to herald the start of increased economic cooperation between the two countries.

It was also attended by Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba, Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry vice-president, Dr. Chabuka Kawesha and representatives from the South Africa Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SACCI).

Speaking at the same event, Mrs. Mwanakatwe pointed out that Zambia and South Africa have had long political relations which began during the liberation struggle and that this should now move toward economic cooperation.

Ms Mwanakatwe says 74 percent of the trade that takes place in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is South African and that four percent is a combination of Zambia’s and Zimbabwe’s.

She hopes that Zambian products will be available in Builders Warehouse, a South African renowned outlet under Massmart, which will be opened in Lusaka in November this year.

Mrs. Mwanakatwe says Africa should realize that it is attracting world attention economically and that countries on the continent should strive to do business among themselves in order to empower their people.

And Ms. Zulu says Zambia and South Africa have been proponents of regional enterprise development pointing out that it was important to highlight the importance of small enterprises as they were the backbone of economies.

She has agreed with Mrs. Mwanakatwe pointing out that it is clear that there is need for Zambia and South Africa, and the rest of the continent to forge links in order to end poverty through the use of the political power embodied in the leaders.

This is contained in a statement made available to QFM News by Zambia’s High Commission to South Africa Press Secretary Nick Shabolyo.