By Staff Writer
Zambia has expressed interest to host a summit for youth entrepreneurs, which will attract participation from all the African Union Member States.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga disclosed this during the Executive Council meeting of the African Union in Niamey, Niger.
He said youths and Women needed more support if they were to make a meaningful contribution to growing economies on the continent, which would improve their livelihoods.
The Minister also called on the African Union Commission to ensure that it puts up a mechanism that will strengthen the rules on the origin of products to prevent the continent from being a dumping site of substandard goods and avoid trans-shipment of goods not originating from Africa.
Mr Mulenga said it was unfortunate that some African Countries were purchasing goods from outside the continent and merely branding them as African, a situation he said should be avoided at all costs if Africa is to develop.
The Minister said Africa would only compete favourably with other continents if the products produced were of good quality.
The Minister is in Niamey to represent President Hakainde Hichilema at the AU Extraordinary Summit on Industrialization and Diversification and the Extraordinary Session on the African Continental Free Trade Area.
And speaking during the opening of the Executive Council, African Union Commission Chairperson, H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, said the Continental Free Trade Area might face obstacles in being achieved unless challenges faced by Africa in terms of moving from one region to another were addressed through the implementation of infrastructure development programs.
He said Africa has a chance to build its capacity and take advantage of emerging opportunities to emerge as a partner to recon within international economic discourse.
This is contained in a statement issued by Inutu Mwanza First Secretary-Press &Tourism Zambia Embassy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
