By KENNEDY MUPESENI –

ZAMBIAN entrepreneurs should forge partnerships with their Chinese counterparts to increase non-traditional exports (NTEs) to China, Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Siazongo Sikalenge has said.
In 2014, Zambia exported about US$3.2 billion into China with copper being the major export product hence the need to diversify exports to that country looking at the massive potential.
Mr Siakalenge said Zambian entrepreneurs should forge business linkages with their Chinese counterparts to increase exports to that country.
“This is the reason why the Government under the industrialisation and job strategy policy is encouraging value addition so that the country can start producing products for export as the way of diversifying the export market,” he said.
He was speaking at the Canton Fair Marketing Promotion which was organised by the Zambia-China Business Association in Lusaka on Tuesday.
Mr Siakalenge urged the business community who will attend the
Canton fair in China to forge partnerships with their counterparts.
“The Zambian Government is proud of the private sector for taking various initiatives which are aimed at increasing business activities and I urge those who will represent Zambia to utilise the opportunity by forging business partnerships,” he said.
About 1,000 Zambian entrepreneurs have been exhibiting at the fair which have given them access to various pieces of equipment.
ZBA vice chairperson Elias Mpondela said the capacity to produce lies in the ability to access equipment hence for Zambian entrepreneurs to participate at the fair.
“Zambian business houses should take advantage of the fair to explore business opportunities with the Chinese companies,”
Mr Mpondela said.
General manager, international communication department of foreign trade of China Alan Liu said Zambian entrepreneurs should take advantage of the fair to showcase their products services.
The Canton Fair which will take place from April 11 to 22, 2015 is expected to attract about 24,000 foreign companies and about 500 Chinese overseas companies.