By FLAVIOR CHISHALA –
THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has called on Italy to invest in Zambia and the COMESA region to boost the economy.
COMESA secretary general Sindiso Ngwenya said more than 870 million people were undernourished while others died from ailments, hence the need for all member states to develop sustainable lifestyles and use best technology to create a balance between availability and consumption of resources.
Mr Ngwenya said during the presentation of credentials by Italy’s special representative to COMESA in Lusaka yesterday that Italy was the key contributor to the European Development Fund through which COMESA had enjoyed an excellent cordial relationship both on bilateral and multilateral levels.
He said it was on these ties that he wanted Italy to invest and cooperate even more by developing joint programmes in specific areas where it had developed global abilities to support the COMESA region in technological transfer and capacity building.
Mr Ngwenya said areas such as industry and human capacity building could be initiated to improve leather and leather products and business linkages to boost trade between Italy and COMESA and among COMESA member states.
He said that other areas could include infrastructure such as the railway development and manufacturing and value-addition so as to produce quality and competitive products.
Permanent representative of COMESA to Italy Filipo Scammacca Del Murgo said the Italian government was aware of the important role COMESA played in enhancing economic liberalisation in the 19-member states.
Mr Del Murgo said free circulation of goods, services and capital of people were powerful tools to integrate economies, expand investments, spread innovations and strengthen growth in order to improve welfare and social justice.
“Liberalisation creates incentives to enhance good governance that stimulates business and attracts direct investment and strengthens the private sector and, working together with the Italians, developing countries’ enterprises will establish new joint ventures resulting in inclusive and decent employment and attract private investors,” he said.