By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
A PROFESSOR in business strategy has observed that the re-introduction of a national airline will expose the country to international tourism and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI).
Professor Biemba Maliti said the reintroduction of the national airline was not a bad idea as it would justify the country as a regional aviation hub.
He said having a flag carrier would rationalise the country which is investing heavily in aviation infrastructure as regional aviation hub but expressed concern with where to get the money looking at the country’s financial position.
“One issue I can talk about is a national airline, some people are demonising the idea, but I talked about the country being a regional hub, a national airline is not a bad idea this will open this country to tourism and FDIs.
Prof Maliti said an interview in Kitwe yesterday that the country’s capital market was strong and all the Government needed was to go to the capital market, obtain money through treasury bills and bonds although in the end Government needed pay back.
In December last Cabinet approved the reintroduction of Zambia Airways (2014) Limited in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines which will gobble an investment outlay of US$30 million in the first year of its operations.
