According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Zambia recorded USD 1.8 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow in 2013, representing the highest inflow of all the 16 Landlocked Developing Countries (LLCD) in Africa.
Speaking at a recent event on facilitating the participation of LLDCs in regional and global community value chain, Hon. Yamfwa Mukanga, Zambia Minister of Transport called on development partners to provide investment assistance to LLCD’s in infrastructure, development institutions, the development of entrepreneurship, human resource training and skills development, the acquisition of and training in technology.
“Regional integration and cooperation should be strengthened under the new concept of developmental regionalism to develop regional infrastructure networks which would in turn enhance competitiveness and increase productive capacities,” he said.
The conversation was organized through a partnership with the UNCTAD and the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) in order to discuss the challenges, opportunities and steps to take to further develop LLDCs.
According to Lindani Ndhlovu, economist and interregional consultant, working with its neighbors in the Regional Economic Community (REC), Zambia should focus on the development of its infrastructure, reducing transport and electricity costs, and building a sustainable and diverse industrial base.
