The British High Commission’s UKAid Development Director, Steve Beel, has visited the Copperbelt to explore new investment opportunities and ways to expand local mining supply-chain capacity.
Mr Beel visited Ndola, Kitwe and Solwezi to explore investment opportunities and see how the UK could further support economic development in the area, particularly through support to local Zambian businesses.
Mr Beel was accompanied on the visit by Sarah Bloom, the British High Commission’s newly appointed Head of Economic Growth & Prosperity
As part of the visit, Mr Beel met with the Deputy Permanent Secretary for North Western Province and president of the Solwezi Chamber of Commerce. Amongst the topics discussed was follow up to the 2019 North West Province Expo, and how to make more of Solwezi’s strategic location.
He said that despite a period of significant economic challenge, we continue to be impressed with the potential and resilience of many growth businesses in Zambia’s Copperbelt and North Western Province.
Mr Beel said It’s vitally important that collectively work with the mining sector in Zambia to open up their supply chains as much as possible to local business.
He said that COVID-19 has again shown us that buying locally can have significant benefits in terms of supply chain resilience and reliability which is in everyone’s interest.
