President Hakainde Hichilema yesterday arrived in Brussels, Belgium and held talks with European Union Council President Charles Michael where they discussed the need for enhanced partnerships in key areas of trade and investment between Zambia and Europe.
President Hichilema said this was because trade and investment was vital to Zambia and a path to sustain development in place of aid.
“Unlocking some barriers is permanent as we are in a hurry to see Zambian products on the international market and eventually turn our country into a production house in order to create and sustain jobs,” he said on his Facebook post yesterday.
President Hichilema said earlier, he met European Union Commission for international partnerships Jutta Urpilainch and indicated the country’s commitment to ensure that it engaged in partnership which were mutually beneficial.
“We also took the opportunity in both meetings to market our country as usual,” he said.
He said his delegation would also hold bilateral meetings with the EU Parliament President; the EU vice president/ commissioner for trade; the vice president European Commission Green Deal; The EU commissioner for international partnerships.
Others were the Minister of state for Development, Francophone and International Partnerships of France, and the Secretary General of the Organisation for African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
Mr. Hichilema would also participate in a roundtable discussion on the relationship between trade and food security.
” Through these engagements in Brussels, we hope to consolidate our Government’s affects to unlock the country’s economy by forging meaningful partnerships for collection, particularly in trade and investment for the betterment of the people of Zambia,” he said.
