By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THE Zambian mission in Turkey has started requesting provincial administrations in Zambia to submit strategic plans for possible linkage to equivalent institutions in Turkey with similar comparative advantage in terms of economic activities.
Chargé d’Affaires of Zambia in Turkey, Bwalya Nondo, said this was aimed at facilitating the twinning of the 10 provinces of Zambia with provinces in Turkey that had similar comparative advantage in terms of economic activities.
This is according to a statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Turkey Jerry Munthali.
“This will enable our provinces leverage opportunities in investment, capacity-building and exchange programmes that will help provincial administrations reposition themselves to contribute more to economic development through generation of wealth and job creation,” Mr Nondo said.
He called on provincial administrations and the private sector to submit lists of viable Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) through ministry of Foreign Affairs, for possible linkage to SMEs in Turkey for possible partnerships to strengthen business entities in Zambia.
Mr Nondo said SMEs were key to economic development because they created the biggest pool of employment opportunities.
He said the potential of SMEs to create wealth and employment opportunities could not be understated.
Mr Nondo said Turkey was a good example of global economies that had grown and sustained the industry of SMEs and that Zambia stood to benefit from this strength.
He said the Seventh National Development Plan had taken cognizance of the potential that SMEs had to make a difference to the economy and hence the resolve to ensure that SMEs contributed to the realization of the development objectives as outlined in the plan.