UN sees Zambia as strategic regional hub

UN sees Zambia as strategic regional hub

By Adrian Mwanza

ZAMBIA is a strategic regional trading hub which must be harnessed by other countries in the global south and beyond, United Nations Conference on Trade Development Secretary General Rebecca Grynspan has said.

Grynspan said the country had transformed its land-locked constraint to land-linked advantage in terms of trade.

When she paid a courtesy call on President Hakainde Hichilema at State House Grynspan said the country had turned its constraint into an advantage and was doing fine in terms of trade.

“Zambia has become a regional trading hub in the global south despite it being a land-locked country,” she said.

Grynspan said Zambia was a key player because it serviced a vital energy corridor which started with COMESA and the Africa Free Trade Area.

She said the countries economic growth was above average in the global south which was very encouraging.

Zambia had been hit by adverse climate change which affected rain patterns.

There was therefore a need for international aid.

Grynspan said the UN system would bring other experts to come and learn from Zambia on how the country was making serious development strides.

She said the country was also an international voice in the development of the developers’ platform as it was a source of knowledge.

President Hichilema said his government was a government of reforms, which helped the country reach its intended targets.

He thanked the UN team for helping government with debt restructuring.

Africa had awakened and that the UN agency had decided not to export raw materials, unlike in the past.

“We are not against anyone but my want to add value to what the African continent  produces unlike in the past,” Hichilema said.

He said the UPND had taken over a very difficult economy but had managed to turn things around through negotiations like debt restructuring.

“The borrowers forum is important to exchange notes because even the residual debt we have we still want to deal with it properly because it is  a bit of burden,” Hichilema said.