By JOHN SAKALA
Once a diplomat always one as former Republican Vice President Nevers Mumba calls on Indian investors to consider Zambia as their investment destination of choice.
Dr Mumba whose last Government appointment was being Zambian Ambassador to Canada said Zambia now provides great incentives to a would be investor.
“Let me emphasize that doing business in Zambia has been made easy as a company can be registered within a twelve hour period,” he said.
He was speaking when he conferred with Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga on the sidelines of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in Gujarat, India, which has attracted Presidents and hundreds of captains of industry.
“President Edgar Lungu is aware of my presence in India. All former Zambian Presidents and Vice Presidents are ambassadors of the country even when they leave office.
“I have to balance between being a Statesman and an effective opposition leader whose goal is to contribute to the welfare and prosperity of the nation,” he said.
Dr Mumba said even as an opposition leader it was his responsibility to support the building of the economy of the country.
“Political differences are normal in any democracy but must be kept within the confines of the country and are not to be exported to other nations,” he said.
And Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga has praised Dr Mumba for speaking good about Zambia when abroad.
“Investors can be attracted to Zambia if opinion leaders stop painting a bad picture of their own country.
“Trade volume between Zambia and India exceeded US$ 1 Billion target in the year 2018 while total investment from India rose to 8 Billion by end of 2018. Business visas issued to Indian traders and investors also increased from 520 in the year 2017 to 602 in the year 2018, representing an increase of 82,” she said.
Ms Kapijimpanga said more Indians were interested in investing in Zambia following the first ever visit in 30 years by an Indian President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, who had a 3- day State Visit to Zambia in April 2018.
“Zambia witnessed the launch of works to decongest Lusaka roads at a cost of US$289 Million on one of the biggest India- Zambia government to government cooperation projects,” she said.
This was contained in a statement released by First Secretary Press and Tourism at the Zambian Mission in New Delhi, India, Bangwe Naviley.
