By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA  in Beijing, CHINA –
COMMERCE, Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe has expressed happiness with the level of interest shown by Chinese companies to invest in Zambia.

. Mwanakatwe

Ms Mwanakatwe said the delegation led by President Edgar Lungu to China has received overwhelming interest by Chinese companies seeking to invest in Zambia.
She said Zambia had managed to sign a number of agreements in various sectors with Chinese companies.
She said this on the sidelines of the China-Zambia Economic Trade and Tourism forum hosted by Non-Ferrous Metal Mining Corporation (CNMC) at the company’s headquarters on Tuesday here.
Ms Mwanakatwe said the interest by Chinese companies meant renewed interest and also renewed commitment by the international community.
“What is pleasing is that we got this from the top most leadership starting from the Chinese president, the premier and the chairman of the ruling party in China and they are all encouraging cooperation, partnership between China and the rest of the world,” Ms Mwanakatwe said.
She was happy that the country, at the China-Zambia Economic, Trade and Tourism forum, managed to sign a number of agreements.
The signed agreements are for investment into the Multi-Facility Economic Zones (MFEZ) particularly the Lusaka-East being put up by Zambia and CNMC which Government was now promoting.
“We are talking of about 11 investors and we are still looking for more and today’s signing of agreements is what is going to usher them in,” she said.
Ms Mwanakatwe said the category of investors Government had entered into agreements with included those in pharmaceuticals, agriculture and agro-processing with a number of farmers eyeing investment opportunities in the country.
Government was however suggesting value addition and companies seeking investment opportunities in the agriculture and the agro-processing in particular should be able to process their products into finished goods.