By BRIAN  HATYOKA –
ZAMBIA and Serbia have agreed to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to steer growth in various sectors of their economies.
The two countries are targeting increased cooperation in agriculture, education, trade and investment.
The planned MoU would provide a sustainable framework of cooperation between the two countries going onwards.??First Secretary for Economic and Trade at the Zambian Embassy in France, Chibwe Chisala said this in a statement issued yesterday.

. Kalaba

Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba was recently in Serbia, where he held discussions on the matter.??The two countries also agreed to finalise the ratification processes of the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement.
During the visit, Mr Kalaba met with Serbian companies such as Nelt Grupa, a company already operating in Zambia in the distribution and logistics sector.
Nelt Grupa informed Mr Kalaba that the company had grown by 300 per cent in revenue over the last two years after setting its footprint in Zambia and planned further expansion as well as creating more jobs.
Mr Kalaba also met with officials from Energoprojekt Holding, a construction company operating here as Zambia Engineering and Contracting Company Limited (ZECCO).
Energoprojekt was behind the construction of FINDECO House in Lusaka and the Kafue Gorge, among other ventures.??The company renewed its investment commitment and informed the minister that it was working with Nelt Grupa to expand its business in Zambia.
The minister also met officials from Galenika, the largest pharmaceutical company in Serbia and others from the Vlatacom Research and Development Centre, a Serbian company that provided turnkey solutions in information, communication and biometric technologies.
Vlatacom had since expressed interest to engage in business with Zambia and was scheduled to visit the country in May this year to further access existing investment opportunities.
“There are a lot of opportunities that exist between Zambia and Serbia which are yet to be explored. These high level visits will therefore, give the two countries the impetus to strengthen bilateral relations.
In addition, a foundation has been formed to build on and realise benefits arising from this cooperation,” Mr Chisala said.