A Chinese Business exploratory team comprising 20 top notch business executives representing more than 30 companies arrives in the country today with more than US$1bn in the kitty for possible investment in several sectors of the Zambian economy.
The visit to this Southern African nation reeling from a myriad of economic challenges ranging from a dysfunctional local currency pressured by a strong dollar, low world copper prices and a debilitating energy crisis whose effects have even more far reaching economic consequences could not have come at a better time than this.
The four-day visit and investment initiative which has been made possible with the auspices of the Zambia Overseas China Association, is arguably the single largest “conglomerate” to express serious business interest in the manufacturing sectors and single largest direct Investment finance commitment in a long time.
With this initiative dubbed “The One Belt and One Road Park”  Zambia is in the next few months poised to see an unprecedented resurgence of the once vibrant manufacturing sector which together with a vivacious copper mining industry positioned the country as one of the fastest growing and most promising economies in the world.
The Park which will be launched jointly by the Tianjin One Belt and One Road International Physical Distribution Group and the Zhongrum Investment Development Group Corporation Limited (Zambia) is envisaged to stand on a sprawling 700 hectares of industrial land will play host to an array of more than 20 high tech firms ranging from bicycle plants, a water pump assembly firm, environmental refuse disposal, construction, concrete processing, municipal engineering, petrochemical industries.
Other areas of manufacturing will be in advanced medical material industries, illumination, plastic material physical distribution, packaging, agriculture and tourisim investment.
The companies which will almost immediately start works are the Tianjin Taida Group Corporation Limited, Environmental Klc Holdings Corporation Limited, Constant Silver Financial Science and Technology Limited, Tiajin Magic Decoration Engineering Corporation Limited and The Tiajin Hua Ming Printing Corporation Limited.
Others are The Tiajin Yourong Dikang Communication Technology Corporation Limited, The Hua Carton Plant, Tiajin Mickwe Technology Corporation Limited, the Tiajin Hua Ming Xin Yu Investment Development Corporation Limited and The Tiajin Lian  Ming Security and Protection Technology Development Corporation Limited.
According to Zambia Overseas Chinese Association chairperson  Jing Jiang the first phase of the investment will gobble up a whooping $300 million while the remainder of the proposed investment will follow.
He says the huge investment brought to Zambia was as a result of the confidence that private Chinese business executives have in the economy, which is coupled with the sound investment climate that government through the leadership of President Edgar Lungu has guaranteed.
“The enterprises delegation has abundant confidence in the development of Zambia and has shown a great desire to partner in the One Belt and One Road industrial park so that they can build factories and the manufacturing industry”, he says.
Mr Jiang said while in Zambia, the chief executives of the enterprises would also launch the Tiajing FTA International Procurement Centre Zambia Sub Centre and the signing of an agreement on Agriculture Product Procurement with Zambia.
A Zambia National Medical Test Centre is also slated to be built in addition with the construction of a Gene Centre.
The Chinese business delegation will pay a courtesy call on president Lungu soon after their arrival.
Tomorrow President Lungu is expected to officially launch the One belt One Road (Zambia) Industrial park at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka.
On Monday the delegation will fly to Livingstone for the official opening of the International Procurement Centre of Tianjin Free Trade Area Zambia Branch Centre.
Company profiles
Tianjin Taida Landun Group Corporation
Launched in 1995 with a registered capital sum of RMB 251,96 Million. An A-Share listing corporation. Is Involved in research and development of petroleum products. Petroleum refining, Chemical production and retail chain operation of filling stations.
Environmental Klc Holdings Corporation Limited
Has a registered share-capital of one trillion dollars. Has nine sub- corporations. The firm devotes itself to research and development of environmental protection, energy saving, and high and efficient agricultural methods.  Core business in, technological research, and investment in household refuse and resourceful treatment. Planning and design of solid waste disposal systems. Production of fertilizer and Hydrogen.
Constant Silver Financial Science and Technology Corporation Limited.
Registered in 2004 with a capital of RMB210 million. Involved in the research, manufacture, sale and operation of finance services. Also develops software, electronic products and solutions. Develops and researches ATM technology. — Feature courtesy of DAVMAT MEDIA