26 INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
James Kaposa Business Development Manager: Zambia
ZAMBIA Zambia’s developmental agenda continues to stimulate growth in the key sectors of the economy. There are increased economic activities in sectors like agriculture, energy, construction, infrastructure development of roads, health and education facilities, mining and manufacturing. Though the drought effects of the last three years prior to 2019 farming season caused crop failure in some parts of the country, irrigation methods of farming have been widely adopted by medium to large scale farmers which has resulted into production sustenance of major cash crops increasing Zambia’s export capacity of non-traditional products. Due to the drought effects, electricity generation was also negatively impacted upon that resulted into power cuts that in turn hampered the mining and manufacturing sectors of the economy. The above factors have caused a downward trend in the growth of our national GDP which has fallen to below three from six percent per annum. Other factors like huge external debt and the economic stress experienced by mining firms that arose from attempts by government to replace VAT system with sales tax system further weakened the economic growth.
WALVIS BAY CORRIDOR GROUP
Our prospects for providing an efficient logistics solution to this market steadily increase. In an effort to raise awareness of the corridor, we have continued marketing and business development strategies to entice the Zambian industry to use the Walvis Bay route. The WBCG’s Business Development office in Zambia focused on engaging in key activities that provide the potential to add volumes to our corridor, while other activities were aimed at building the brand and increasing awareness of the corridor. We have aligned ourselves with various business forums, creating partnerships between private and public companies that serve to engage them on the use of the Walvis Bay corridor as an alternative route for both exports and imports. During the period, we have cultivated strategic partnerships with intergovernmental development agencies aimed at showcasing the investment opportunities in the country. Discussions and linkages with Zambian and Namibian service providers like transport companies and forwarders are an on going endeavour.
