……..let’s explore new investment opportunities
Moscow, 21.02.2019
The Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Joseph Malanji says Zambia and Russia have agreed to explore investment opportunities in new areas that include agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and mining among others.
Addressing the Russian press in Moscow Wednesday alongside his Russian counterpart His Excellency Sergey Ravrov, Mr. Malanji said he has invited the Russian business community to visit Zambia to explore and actualize the investment opportunities.
“I have also invited my counterpart to visit Zambia to continue our discussions and improve our economic cooperation”, the Zambian Foreign Minister said.
On his part, Mr. Ravrov expressed his gratitude for Zambia’s support of Russia’s positions at the United Nations, most of which are intended to promote peace in the world and the current challenge of terrorism.
The Russian Minister noted with satisfaction Zambia’s role in promoting peace on the African continent and pledged his country’s continued cooperation with the southern African country.
The Zambian Foreign Minister was in Russia as a follow up to the sideline meeting President Edgar Lungu held with his Russian counterpart last year during the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in South Africa.
The two leaders had agreed to deepen diplomatic relations by exploring new areas of investment. In this regard, the Zambian government has been in discussions with Rosatom, a Russian State enterprise that will spearhead the construction of a center for nuclear science and technology.
The center is intended for civilian purposes that include medical and agricultural applications. It is expected among other things to be producing Isotopes for the treatment of cancer patients.
Zambia has enjoyed cordial relations with Russia dating back to 1964 when Zambia became an independent State. One of the areas of support Zambia has enjoyed is the education sector in which hundreds of Zambian students have received scholarships to study in Russia.
Currently, there are about 650 Zambians studying in Russia in different fields as part of the scholarship program the country offers Zambia. Of the scholarships offered to African countries, Zambia accounts for 11%, a factor Minister Malanji pointed out and expressed gratitude to the Russian government and its people.
The Foreign Minister was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation, Ambassador Chalwe Lombe, Industrial Development Cooperation, IDC, Chief Executive Mateyo Kaluba and Zambia’s Ambassador to Russia His Excellency Shadreck Luwita.