The Czech Republic has committed to help Zambia promote value addition through production of finished products as opposed to export of raw materials.
The Czech Republic President His Excellency Petr Pavel emphasized that his country’s cooperation with Zambia was a special one and will be based on the ‘made in Zambia’ concept through value addition within Zambia.
He said this on Tuesday at the Prague Castle, the official residence of the Czech Republic President, after Zambia’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany Her Excellency Winnie Natala Chibesakunda presented her Letters of Credence, accrediting her as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Czech Republic.
The Czech President said his country does not intend to take any minerals from Zambia but will engage in value addition adding that all Czech companies that will invest in Zambia are encouraged to value add within Zambia.
He pointed out that economy and trade are catalysts for good cooperation between countries and appealed to Ambassador Chibesakunda to ensure that Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are signed in areas of cooperation for implementation of the main programme.
President Pavel said he was happy that Zambia and the Czech Republic are supporting each other at international level and that he was looking forward to receiving high level delegations from Zambia.
And Ambassador Chibesakunda conveyed greetings and best wishes from President Hakainde Hichilema to President Pavel and the people of the Czech Republic
She expressed gratitude to the President for being the first to respond to the call made by President Hakainde Hichilema on the drought situation in Zambia, and for sending a high level delegation to Zambia in the first quarter of this year.
Ambassador Chibesakunda appealed for more areas of cooperation to be considered in the health sector.
She thanked the Czech Republic for offering Scholarships to Zambia in the areas that are important for the country’s economic development.
The Ambassador emphasized the need to promote more cooperation in the agricultural and energy sectors, and assured the President that the Embassy would follow up on the many infrastructure projects which have attracted the Czech Republic.