Govt is still committed to creating 500, 000 jobs by 2016 – Wina

Government has reaffirmed its commitment to creating more than 500, 000 jobs by 2016 through the industrialization and value addition strategies.

Republican Vice President Inonge Wina says in order to achieve this, government is open to ideas and best practices of incentivizing the upcoming women and youth entrepreneurs so that government can create more jobs and wealth and consequently deliver on the promise to the people as outlined in the Patriotic Front Manifesto.

Speaking during the opening of the 2015 Zambia Entrepreneurship Summit organized by Women’s Entrepreneurship Center of Resources, Education, Access and Training for Economic Empowerment (WECREATE) dubbed Accessing Good Ideas, Accessing Financing, Ms. Wina says she is delighted to see various financing options that are directed at accelerating Business Development for Entrepreneurs.

in a speech read on her behalf by commerce, trade and industry minister margret mwanakatwe, Ms. Wina says government is committed to supporting innovative businesses and social solutions, especially in priotize areas and social-economic growth such as agriculture, tourism, Education, Health, Infrastructure Development among other things.

Inonge Wina

She says there is need to lay a strong foundation in innovation and entrepreneurship development to take Zambia to a developed country by 2064.

Ms. Wina has disclosed that government is considering re-looking at the whole approach to empowerment funds being administered by the ministries of commerce, Trade and Industry, Gender, Agriculture Youth, Sport and Child Development and Community Development and Social Welfare, with the view of harmonization and more importantly, up scaling and redefining training for applicants.

She has since challenged WECREATE Zambia Centre and the United States Embassy in Zambia to forge Links with all stakeholders both from the public and private sectors in the National Entrepreneurial ecosystem and structure a permanent national platform of the Zambia entrepreneurship summit which will be part of the Zambia’s calendar in the Celebration of the global entrepreneurship week which runs every week in November.

And speaking earlier US Ambassador to Zambia Eric Shultz says Zambia has great economic potential which young entrepreneurs should tap.

Mr. Shultz says entrepreneurs will lead Zambia from reliance on aid to prosperity through business and trade.

He says he has been impressed and energized by the young Zambian entrepreneurs he meets and urges them to continue.

And WECREATE Executive Director Nambula Kachumi has called on government to address the factors which will accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship and consequently impact on the much desired transformation of Zambia into developed country.