Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Timo Olkkonen
Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Timo Olkkonen says Zambia lost an opportunity to generate more revenue when government banned the export of Maize at a time when neighboring countries were in dire need of maize and maize products.
Mr. Olkkonen says milling companies were willing to export maize and maize products but could not do so because of the ban, thereby preventing them from generating more income that could have also benefitted the country economically.
He has told QTV news that when any country prohibits trade from flowing, this has consequences hence the need for government to learn lessons from the ban that was lifted recently by Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya.
Mr. Olkkonen says this is especially that that neighboring countries are also expecting bumper harvests.