MULENGA CALLS FOR COMMITMENT FROM LOCAL MANUFACTURERS

MANUFACTURERS should remain committed and steadfast as they pursue synergies, business deals, leads and partnerships, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga has urged.

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Mulenga urged manufacturers to use platforms such as the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) to unbundle their challenges.

He said it was important for ZAM to continue boosting sustainable growth through value addition and productivity enhancement.

He noted the importance of the manufacturing sector to the development of the Zambian economy and recognised the various developments in the sectors such as the growth in the ceramics and fertilizer sub-sectors that had grown from being wholly import sectors to being able to export.

He added that the Government was committed to helping associations such as ZAM, among others, in achieving long term objectives that would contribute to the country’s development.

“We commend ZAM for promoting integration of players in the manufacturing sector as this is good for our country’s economic development. This goes to show that ZAM is serious about strengthening its governance systems while setting an example to other similar institutions,” he said.

“It is the Government’s desire to enhance growth of the sector by exploring measures that are aimed at positioning the sector’s competitiveness in the region. We therefore encourage the Association to take a further step to ensure that we develop a demand driven skills development programme as a matter of urgency in consultation with the private sector with a possible ring fencing of the skills development levy for this purpose,” Mr. Mulenga said.

He urged the Association to continue showing commitment and working with all stakeholders to promote sustainable growth in the manufacturing sector.

And the Zambia Association of Manufacturers has commended the Government for the continued commitment to support the development of the Zambian domestic economy.

ZAM president AshuSagar said the Association took note of the Government’s efforts in unlocking Zambia’s economic potential by addressing the constraints of economic growth in the mining, energy, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors.

“We urge the Government to continue with the measures being put across all sectors such as, but not limited to, mining and agriculture as these will form the bedrock for the supply chain for us the value adders in the manufacturing sector,” he said.