By Staff Writer
The Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Brasilia has started engagement with AGCO, one of Brazil’s top manufacturers of agricultural equipment to consider setting up an assembly plant in Zambia.
Through recognized brands including Challenger, Fendt, GSI, Massey Ferguson, Precision Planting and Valtra, AGCO provides agricultural solutions to farmers worldwide with a complete line of tractors, harvesters, sprayers, fencing and fodder equipment, implements, grain storage and protein production systems, as well as spare parts.
During a factory tour in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Chargé d’ Affaires at the Embassy of Zambia in Brazil, Coillard Muvwema expressed gratitude at the confidence AGCO had in the Zambian government by hosting and holding talks with the Embassy staff.
Mr Muvwema hailed the company’s agricultural prowess on the global market and hoped that the company would consider the invitation to invest in Zambia so as to tap in the regional business potential Zambia offers to its investors.
The Charge d’ Affaires told the AGCO that due to Zambia’s strategic location, it offered access to about 371.78 million people in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) alone and even more on the African continent.
“As Zambia, our focus and goal is now more towards becoming an agricultural hub and food basket for the region and Africa, we are mechanising our agricultural system and it is our sincere hope that you will work with us in achieving this agenda,” said Mr Muvwema.
AGCO South America Government Relations Specialist Francisco Garcia Reberti acknowledged the strides the government of Zambia was making in the agricultural sector in a bid to ensure food security of its people and the region.
Mr Reberti said AGCO would help and work with the Embassy of Zambia in Brasilia on partnerships to see how best the agricultural equipment market could be improved and expanded for the benefit of the two parties involved.
“Our commitment and investments in research, development and engineering continue to ensure that AGCO remains at the forefront of solutions for farmers worldwide,” Mr Reberti said. “We would like to work with you on improving the market before moving forward to put an assembly line in Zambia.”
Records show that AGCO has only exported fifteen tractors to Zambia, a situation both parties want to change.
AGCO provides technologies that help farmers around the world maximize production, reduce loss, and conserve the resources that are critical to meeting the growing need for food, fuel and fibre.
This is contained in a statement issued by Lloyd Kapusa First Secretary-Press and Public Relations Brasilia, Brazil
