The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry has continued to engage the various players in the manufacturing sector to understand the challenges they are experiencing, and to also ascertain the opportunities available in the sector.
A combined team of the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Mr. Christopher Yaluma, the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Acting Director General Mr. Mukula Makasa, other senior staff from the ministry and representatives from the statutory bodies under the ministry toured Zambeef Kalundu and Huntley farms in Chisamba in order to establish the scenario on the ground.
Speaking after the tour of the two farms, Mr. Yaluma assured Zambeef that government would protect the local industries from unfair competition from foreign entities in order to boost the growth of local enterprises.
He cited cheap imports and some smuggled products such as shoes, which are sold at much lower prices on the local market as commodities that killed the local industry.
“Not only is Zambeef manufacturing a range of products through various value chains, the company is also creating wealth and employment for the people of Zambia, thereby uplifting their standards of living,” Mr. Yaluma said.
He said government was duty bound to create a favourable business environment and opportunities for all Zambians and companies like Zambeef, translating into more jobs for the locals.
Mr. Yaluma noted that it is was through exposure to big companies like Zambeef that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) could learn and graduate to large investors.
“It is for this reason that government through ZDA and other relevant institutions empowered MSMEs through training and linkages to big companies to enable them to grow and increase their disposable income,” he explained.
And speaking earlier, Zambeef Chief Operations Officer Mike Lovett said as the largest vertically integrated agribusiness, Zambeef had risen to the occasion in filling the gaps in the food supply chain created by foreign exporters of food products, who had been unable to bring in produce due to Covid 19 Pandemic.
Mr. Lovett explained that with the diverse and wide range of food products, the company had managed to cushion Zambians from the full impact of the disruptions in the local and international supply chain.
“Since our humble beginning in 1994, Zambeef has expanded its operations massively, diversifying from just a few butcheries to the production, processing, distribution and retailing of beef, chicken, pork, eggs, dairy products, fish, flour and stock feed throughout Zambia and the sub region,” he disclosed.
He further revealed that since inception, Zambeef had employed over 7400 Zambians.
Meanwhile, ZDA Acting Director General Mukula Makasa pledged the Agency’s commitment to working with Zambeef in expanding their investments and facilitating access to the export market for various products.
Mr. Makasa said the Agency would work with MSMEs to identify opportunities for linking them to Zambeef at various stages of the value chains.
He encouraged local investors to take advantage of the reduced threshold of accessing investment incentives under the ZDA Act by consulting and registering with the Agency.
Mr. Makasa further advised MSMEs to take advantage of the services offered by ZDA in order to expand, through various business development services such as business plan development, market linkages and access to finance.
