What RB told Chinese businessmen today
President Luo Tao of CNMC,
Honorable Ministers and colleagues from Zambia
Chinese high level officials
Senior government officials from both china and zambia
Distinguished Invited business guests
Ladies and Gentlemen;
It is my honour and privilege to be here today and to participate in this China-Zambia Investment Promotion seminar. The objective of this Seminar is to cement the warm and strong relationship between our two countries.
Specifically, our aim at this seminar is to showcase the vast investment opportunities that exist in the Zambian economy for Chinese Investment. it is, Therefore, our wish to promote an environment in which partnerships between Zambian and Chinese business houses can bestrengthened for the mutualm benefit and to ensure a win-win outcome for our two nations.
In this regard, it is befitting and truly symbolic that the China-Zambia Investment Seminar is being hosted by China Nonferrous Metal Corporation (CNMC), a company that has already made enormous strides towards the consolidation of this great partnershipS in a number of areas such as social, political, economic, technological, and cultural fields.
By hosting this seminar, CNMC continues to act as an important model for other business houses and Zambia and China for for broadening and depening partnerships between our two countries.
To CNMC, I want to ACKNOWLEDGE WITH GRATITUDE YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUR VISIBLE ACTIONS IN TIMES OF NEED. YOUR EFFORTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COUNTRY ARE MOSTLY REMEMBERED WHEN MINING HOUSES IN ZAMBIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD WERE CLOSING DUE TO THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL MELT-DOWN.
AT THE TIME YOU DECIDED TO TAKE OVER A MINE THAT HAD JUST BEEN CLOSED AND BY NOT LAYING OFF MINERS AT YOUR NFC AFRICA MINE AT CHAMBISHI. THIS HELPED STABILISE THE ECONOMY AND PREVENT A LOSS OF JOBS. AS RESULT ZAMBIA STILL GREW BY AN IMPRESSIVE RATE AND SHOWED A RAPID RECOVERY AT A TIME WHEN MOST COUNTRIES RECORDED NEGATIVE RATES OF GROWTH.
TO THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS BUSINESS SEMINAR, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION ABOUT ZAMBIA, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO OBTAIN AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE FROM THIS SEMINAR. IN ADDITION i INVITE YOU TO COME TO ZAMBIA TO SEE FOR YOURSELVES AND TO EXPLORE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN A NUMBER OF AREAS SUCH AS AGRICULTURE, MINING, MANUFACTURING, TOURISM, ENERGY AND INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY.
Ladies and Gentlemen
I WISH TO AFFIRM THAT SINCE ITS INDEPENDENCE, ZAMBIA HAS ENJOYED GOOD ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH CHINA. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND ITS PEOPLE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT AND ITS PEOPLE AND HAS SUPPORTED OUR COUNTRY FROM THE PRE-INDEPENDENCE TIMES.
THE CHINESE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOME IMPORTANT PROJECTS IN OUR COUNTRY SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION OF THE TAZARA RAIL LINE, CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATIN OF ROADS, SUPPLY OF SHORT-WAVE TRANSMITTERS TO OUR NATIONAL BROADCASTER, CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ULTRA MODERN GOVERNMENT COMPLEX, REHABILITATION OF THE STORAGE SHEDS OR SILOS, CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES AND PROVISION OF SCHOLARSHIPS AS WELL AS DEPLOYMENT OF MEDICAL DOCTORS TO ZAMBIA. THE CHINESE PEOPLE HAVE MADE SACRIFICES FOR WHICH WE GRATEFUL.
NOT LONG AGO, CHINA OPENED A BRANCH OF THE BANK OF CHINA IN LUSAKA, ONE OF THE FEW BRANCHES IN AFRICA ALONG SIDE A TRADE AND COMMERCIAL CENTRE, ALSO IN LUSAKA. THE COMING OF BANK OF CHINA MEANS THAT BUSINESS INTRESTS FROM CHINA CAN BE FULLY SUPPORTED BY BANK OF CHINA AND THE OTHER COMMERCIAL BANKS ALL CAPABLE OF PROVIDING YOUR BUSINESSES WITH FIRST CLASS FINANCIAL SERVICES.
PRESIDENT LUO
Ladies and Gentlemen
During the course of this seminar, I want to share with all of you present, THAT ZAMBIA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND IS AMONG THE BEST DESTINATIONS FOR INVESTMENT. WE OFFER INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN MINING, AGRICULTURE, ENERGY, TOURISM, CONSTRUCTION AND VALUE ADDITION IN MANUFACTURING. RECENT STUDIES SHOW THAT ZAMBIA HAS POTENTIAL IN THE PETROLIUM SECTOR AS WELL. DETAILS ON THESE OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED DURING THIS SEMINAR.
at this business seminar, i have come with my ministers, OTHER SENIOR officials, The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and the business community who will be able to provide professional and technical information necessary for you to make good business decisions to locate your investments in zambia.
Distinguished invited guests ,
president luo
Ladies and Gentlemen
Before, I conclude my remarks, i would like to refer you to the video which you have just watched which is a useful summation of what zambia has to offer to the would be investors.
It is my SINCERE hope that by the time we conclude these deliberations, we should have a number of you, if not all of you to make firm decisions to come and take a look and possibly invest in our beautiful Zambia. It is our hope that the Zambia business houses that have come to Beijing with us, will be going home with a definite Chinese business partner.
With these remarks, I wish to hear lively and fruitful deliberations and i now would like to declare this China-Zambia Investment Forum officially opened.
I thank you
President Banda made the remarks above on February 26, 2010 in Beijing China during an investment seminar attended by over 100 Chinese investors and 30 Zambian business persons.
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When you are not in government, its easy to say that Chinese investment is trash. It took US Secreatry to the Treasury to visit China and ask for more Chinese investment into the US economy. GM motor when it indicated of selling its hummer brand, it was the Chinese who had the money. Equally when landrover UK was going down, it was the Chinese who had money and rescued the company. So, am wondering why not Zambia not to benefit from this opportunity. Its shameful to call for Chinese investors to stay away from Zambia when mature world economies are queing for Chinese investment. Do Sata and those calling for China out have resources to keep jobs, stupid thinking. This is a global world and FDI is what keep nation’s economy sound.
Metals are needed, badly needed, despite the harsh world economic situation. China is investing in mines in Zambia, not to assist Zambia, because they need Zambian copper and cobalt. They are not only in Zambia, but they are found all over Africa, where oil, copper, manganese, cobalt, tin, zinc, bauxite is found. Check in DRC, they gave DRC 10 billions dollars to re-build the this country war-damaged inastructures…Against mining rights. They just invested five billons dollars in Uganda to get the oil from Lake Albert, at the border with DRC, they are in Nigeria for tin, in Gabon for oil and timber. So, dont be so naive, they need minerals not coming for their great love of Zambia and Zambians. First Quantum is not a chinese company, but look at the investment they have done in North Westen Province.
In fact, they are not the best when workers and employees welfare is concerned. They just want our copper, cobalt at less cost possible. Why dont they train local Zambian to take over the operations one day?
viva the PACT iwe ka jitao uletina kingcobra all the chines fellers come 2011 kuya bebele pabwatooooooooooooooooooooo!
What about mentioning that the coming investors must always embrace Safety measures at their places of work eh, and offer competitive salaries eh,
Lets not seem too desperate to getting the so called investors, otherwise they may fail to follow the required labur laws.
China is solely responsible for the high copper prices and it imports over 70% of Zambias copper. Dont bite that hand that feeds or we’ll end up like Zimbabwe. I’m sure you’d be happy to see Zambians suffering even more which is why you support the pact and its evil intentions. Sambadayonce i suggest you start by leaving your wife and marrying the call girl round the corner. If you can succeed in this, then we can succeed with the pact!
To All Chinese people intending to invest after the presidents speech, i have a warning for you. STAY AWAY FROM ZAMBIA COZ MMD IS LOSING AND WE SHALL RETURN YOU TO WHERE YOU BELONG . VIVA PACT.