. Thornton

By JAMES KUNDA –
TRADE between Zambia and the United Kingdom (UK) has grown to more than K1.2 billion per annum, British High Commissioner to Zambia James Thornton has said.
Mr Thornton said there was a lot of interest in Zambia on the part of British companies and the UK wanted to promote trade with Africa’s second largest producer of copper.
Mr Thornton said this in a statement when he announced the appointment of Vichaya Chungu as a new officer in the British High Commission in Lusaka with the sole aim to promote commercial relations between Zambia and the UK.
“I am already seeing a lot of interest in Zambia on the part of British companies but the opportunities available in Zambia deserve to be even better known in the UK and part of Vichaya’s job will be to ensure that happens.
“It is terrific to have Vichaya on the team.  We have previously worked hard to promote commercial relations between the UK and Zambia, but this is the first time that we have had an officer in the High Commission for that sole purpose,” Mr Thornton said.
Ms Chungu said she was delighted to have joined the British High Commission and she would work as part of the team, while also reporting to the UK’s dedicated trade and investment promotion agency, UKTI.
“The UK produces high quality goods and services in many sectors and I am sure that Zambia could benefit more from these.
“In the first instance I will be looking to increase trade in the infrastructure, agriculture, and the extractives sectors, and education and skills,” she said.
Ms Chungu was selected for the position based on her knowledge of the Zambian commercial sector as she had previously worked in the logistics industry and had prior experience in international trade facilitation.