THE engagements which President Hakainde Hichilema has held in Germany are progressive for the country and underscore the importance of economic diplomacy which the New Dawn administration has been pursuing since assuming office in August 2021.
The head of State is in Germany to participate in the 5th G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) conference at the invitation of that country’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
We commend these important engagements because Zambia, like any other country, cannot operate in isolation as we are living in a global village and countries should ordinarily share symbiotic relations for the prosperity of their respective populations.
The importance of co-existence cannot be over-emphasised as Zambia is also yawning for Foreign Direct Investments to help grow the economy and create employment for the youthful population.
This inevitably needs other players to run and grow the economy.
Therefore, efforts by President Hichilema, who has assumed the role of ‘number one marketing officer’, are commendable as they continue to yield positive results and cast a good light on the country to be visible to the world.
To underscore this visibility, we are reminded by the President’s humorous hashtag of ‘Zambia ku chalo’, loosely translated as ‘Zambia to the world’.
It is gratifying that President Hichilema continues to expose Zambia on the world stage during high-level international meetings and other engagements on the side[1]lines of such meetings to champion economic diplomacy for the benefit of the country.
Further, President Hichilema’s visit aligns with his ongoing pursuit of economic diplomacy aimed at attracting trade and investment opportunities for Zambians as part of the New Dawn administration’s economic policy reform agenda.
Germany, for example, is the fourth largest economy in the world after the United States, China and Japan, and the largest economy in Europe.
In view of Germany’s global stature, it is prudent for Zambia to continue making efforts to tap into opportunities from that country, including FDIs.
We find it interesting that since its launch in 2017 under the German G20 Presidency, CwA has garnered significant interest, with 13 African countries already signed up, among them leading economies such as Rwanda, Ghana and Egypt.
It is worth noting and commendable that Zambia is being invited for the first time. This is not by accident, but it is owing to its recent economic transformation agenda under the stewardship of President Hichilema.
We also find it heart-warming that Zambia has expressed interest in joining the CwA initiative as such high-level engagements are undoubtedly beneficial to the country.
The key aspect of the CwA initiative is based on the premise that economic progress can be achieved through country-specific programmes instead of generic cases drawn from elsewhere.
Another cardinal noteworthy observation is that President Hichilema’s tour of duty to Germany comes on the backdrop of that country’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s significant two-day visit to Zambia earlier this month, when he also visited Victoria Falls in Livingstone.
Dr Steinmeier’s visit was momentous as the country stands to benefit even in the tourism sector as his visit effectively marketed one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
President Hichilema’s visit to Germany, where he also held talks with Mr Scholz, among other engagements, further cements the two countries’ relations.
Economic diplomacy agenda commendable
THE engagements which President Hakainde Hichilema has held in Germany are progressive for the country and underscore the importance of economic diplomacy which the New Dawn administration has been pursuing since assuming office in August 2021.
The head of State is in Germany to participate in the 5th G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) conference at the invitation of that country’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
We commend these important engagements because Zambia, like any other country, cannot operate in isolation as we are living in a global village and countries should ordinarily share symbiotic relations for the prosperity of their respective populations.
The importance of co-existence cannot be over-emphasised as Zambia is also yawning for Foreign Direct Investments to help grow the economy and create employment for the youthful population.
This inevitably needs other players to run and grow the economy.
Therefore, efforts by President Hichilema, who has assumed the role of ‘number one marketing officer’, are commendable as they continue to yield positive results and cast a good light on the country to be visible to the world.
To underscore this visibility, we are reminded by the President’s humorous hashtag of ‘Zambia ku chalo’, loosely translated as ‘Zambia to the world’.
It is gratifying that President Hichilema continues to expose Zambia on the world stage during high-level international meetings and other engagements on the side[1]lines of such meetings to champion economic diplomacy for the benefit of the country.
Further, President Hichilema’s visit aligns with his ongoing pursuit of economic diplomacy aimed at attracting trade and investment opportunities for Zambians as part of the New Dawn administration’s economic policy reform agenda.
Germany, for example, is the fourth largest economy in the world after the United States, China and Japan, and the largest economy in Europe.
In view of Germany’s global stature, it is prudent for Zambia to continue making efforts to tap into opportunities from that country, including FDIs.
We find it interesting that since its launch in 2017 under the German G20 Presidency, CwA has garnered significant interest, with 13 African countries already signed up, among them leading economies such as Rwanda, Ghana and Egypt.
It is worth noting and commendable that Zambia is being invited for the first time. This is not by accident, but it is owing to its recent economic transformation agenda under the stewardship of President Hichilema.
We also find it heart-warming that Zambia has expressed interest in joining the CwA initiative as such high-level engagements are undoubtedly beneficial to the country.
The key aspect of the CwA initiative is based on the premise that economic progress can be achieved through country-specific programmes instead of generic cases drawn from elsewhere.
Another cardinal noteworthy observation is that President Hichilema’s tour of duty to Germany comes on the backdrop of that country’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s significant two-day visit to Zambia earlier this month, when he also visited Victoria Falls in Livingstone.
Dr Steinmeier’s visit was momentous as the country stands to benefit even in the tourism sector as his visit effectively marketed one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
President Hichilema’s visit to Germany, where he also held talks with Mr Scholz, among other engagements, further cements the two countries’ relations.