By Sharon Siame
President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has directed Secretary to the Cabinet PATRICK KANGWA to formalise and gazette the Private Sector Day.
The President says the Private Sector Day will be dedicated to the business community and that it will not be a public holiday but a day for the private sector to network and do business.
And President HICHILEMA says the creation of the Public Private Dialogue Forum -PPDF- has helped in driving the country’s agenda of attaining economic growth.
He says reforms that have been instituted as a result of the PPDF have also led to significant investments in the mining sector, leading to job creation in companies such as Barrick Lumwana and First Quantum.
The President said this when he officiated at the fourth Private sector Day at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka today.
And President HICHILEMA said reforms are essential to achieving overall economic growth and delivering positive results.
He called for private sector engagement in driving economic growth and that there is need for a structured approach to working together.
President HICHILEMA further said digitization is important in reducing the cost of doing business and in improving government efficiency.
He highlighted the success of digital solutions in creating employment opportunities and the need for continued investment in digital infrastructure.
And Pharmanova Zambia limited Chief Executive Officer MUHAMMED UMAR, speaking on behalf of the private sector, expressed gratitude to Government for the continuous support in Zambia’s economic trajectory.
Mr. UMAR said the public-private dialogue forum is now a model for collaboration across the continent and a cornerstone of Zambia’s growing economy.
Meanwhile, Jellycare Films Public Relations and Communications Officer EUNICE MWENYA said the partnership with the public private dialogue forum has given the company and other media houses to contribute to the National event by providing media services.
And Secretary to the Cabinet, PATRICK KANGWA has assured the private sector of necessary support in order for the sector to thrive.
Mr. KANGWA said government’s doors remain open to addressing any challenges faced by the private sector.
He said through the technical working groups, 120 reform interventions have been agreed to by government, of which 60 percent are already under implementation.
Mr. KANGWA disclosed this during the fourth Private Sector Day organised by the Public Private Dialogue Forum -PPDF- in Lusaka today.
And PPDF Director General, ANDREW CHIPWENDE paid tribute to President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA for his continued support towards the Private Sector Day.
Mr. CHIPWENDE said President HICHILEMA’s government has given special attention to areas that are stimulating economic growth, such as energy, digitisation and alternative financing.
And Zambia Sugar Plc Country Managing Director OSWALD MAGWENZI said his company remains committed to private sector growth and development in Zambia.
Mr. MAGWENZI said Zambia Sugar Plc is currently undertaking projects amounting to 132 million US dollars, to support private sector growth, with plans of reaching one million tonnes of sugar production in the next five years.
Meanwhile, new technical working groups have been unveiled, to deepen dialogue and drive sector-specific reform.
They include the Gender and Women, headed by Gender in Development Division Permanent Secretary MAINGA KABIKA, Media technical working group led by COSTA MWANSA and the one on Health, under Dr. SHAILEN DESAI.
The theme for the fourth Private Sector Day is ‘Driving National Development and building economic resilience: Innovative private sector for job creation and sustained economic growth.’
