By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –
THE Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has applauded the investor community for their continued confidence in the local economy.
ZDA director general Patrick Chisanga said it was encouraging to see more investment pledges, with the latest being a United Kingdom (UK) business delegation which is expected in the country to strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries.
Mr Chisanga expressed happiness with the degree of investor confidence in the Zambian economy, especially that the country would be going to the polls this year.
This is contained in a statement issued by ZDA communications and public relations manager Margaret Chimanse.
He said the investor confidence could be observed from the investment pledges that were coming through from the United Kingdom (UK) and other parts of the world.
“Just this week we had a meeting with Unilever, who disclosed to us that they want to increase their investment in Zambia by a 100 million Euros.
“I feel so proud as a Zambian that despite everything, we still continue to enjoy such high level investor confidence from the whole world,” he said.
Mr Chisanga said it was important to continue stimulating and interacting with investors to consolidate relationships.
He said while in the UK, ZDA met with a dozen investors who expressed interest to invest in the Zambian economy, especially in the energy sector.
“We met with investors such as GM Tower Resources, who are involved in prospecting for oil and gas and over US$3 million has been invested in the country and would be moving to consolidate their prospecting activities and a ZDA investment licence,” he said.
Mr Chisanga said ZDA also held a meeting with Green Energy UK Limited who have interest in putting up smaller solar panels that would be useful in rural areas.
Several other meetings were held with prospective investors including a meeting with the Business Council for Africa, who tabled a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with  ZDA.
ZDA  was currently studying the MoU to understand the provisions and benefits of the agreement.