
WEDNESDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2021
Permanent Secretaries & Heads of Government Business present,
Heads of Foreign Missions present,
Transport & Logistics Stakeholders present,
The Land-Linked Zambia Conference Organisers – Africast & Image Promotions,
Senior Government Officials,
Distinguished Invited Guests,
Members of the Press,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
Good morning. Allow me to sincerely welcome you all to the MEET & GREET THE INDUSTRY breakfast, which marks the official launch of the Land-Linked Zambia© 2021 Exhibition scheduled for 2nd to 3rd December 2021. Your presence today strongly sends a statement that despite the devastating pandemic, Zambia is ready to develop the sector by working hand-in-hand, using each other’s strengths, abilities and resources.
I am particularly happy on the timing of this event and the up-coming conference in December, as they come soon after the installation of the New Dawn Government, thereby demonstrating the eagerness to work and this passion resonates well with the new administration. Therefore, going forward, you can count on the UPND Government to provide strategic direction to accelerate development within and beyond our borders.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,
This event is the beginning of a new era of co-operation among the stakeholders present here this morning. As the Minister responsible for Transport and Logistics, I am pleased to see such a representation of different stakeholders in the industry coming together to explore more affordable and reliable business opportunities.
While the impacts of Covid-19 have been far reaching and cannot be understated, more so for Actors in the supply chain, a silver lining emerged which established a new way of conducting business, reliant on technology, collaborations and partnerships, thus creating new opportunities for startups as well as your traditional brick and mortar companies. Government is committed to supporting and fostering growth in this new business ecosystem. Indeed, it is a New Dawn and we welcome it!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
Zambia is endowed with incredible investment prospects that drive and support developments in the various sectors of our economy which, once harnessed, will see a Zambia that will address issues of job creation and poverty reduction. Further, Zambia is a strategic link of the Corridor Network in SADC and COMESA, and well-placed to facilitate trade in the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Therefore, the Conference & Exhibition on in December 2021, rightly dubbed “LAND-LINKED Zambia 2021” will underline the vital role Zambia plays in the global and regional commodity value chain and the movement and storage of goods.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,
I am reliably informed that the upcoming Land-Linked Zambia Conference has already attracted active participation from the Ports of Beira and Nacala in Mozambique; Durban- South Africa; Walvis Bay – Namibia, and Dar-es-Salaam – Tanzania, all of whom have a Corridor that they serve that passes through Zambia. These Corridors bring with them numerous business and investment opportunities.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
A paradigm shift of thinking about Zambia’s position of being land locked to being land linked creates abundant opportunities for improving and linking transport systems, particularly with regard to supply chain activities such as warehousing and the conveyance of goods. To this effect, Government intends to implement an intermodal network that seamlessly links road, rail, air and maritime for transporting cargo and passengers within and through Zambia.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
Allow me to commend the Transport and Logistics industry players for showing commitment by being present at this breakfast event. It is through such gatherings and Indabas where great minds from the public and private sectors meet that meaningful ideas come from to inform policy.
Without further ado, I wish everyone successful deliberations today and I am looking forward to a successful conference in December.
I thank you.