By CHATULA KANGALI –
THE Ndola District Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NDCCI) has called for a formation of a policy that will enable local suppliers and contractors get more shares in major contracts.
NDCCI publicity secretary Paul Chisunka said the current business environment was not favouring local suppliers and contractors.
Mr Chisunka said only 20 percent of the contracts in the mining industry, infrastructure development and Government procurement was given to locals.
He observed that the supply and contracts sector in the country was dominated by foreigners a situation that was hindering the growth of the local sector.
“Local suppliers have reached a level at which they can handle any contract and have become competitive, It is for this reason that we call on Government to promote us by formulating a policy that will favour us,” he said.
Mr Chisunka said awarding larger shares of  contracts  to  local contractors and suppliers  would help grow the  economy and create  more  jobs.
NDDCI has further called on Government to restrict and reserve some business sectors like trading and vegetable supply to locals.
Mr Chisunka said the restriction of sectors would enable locals compete favourably and grow their businesses.
He said the restriction of chicken rearing and block making should extend to other business sector such as trading, car wash and vegetable supplies among others.
Mr Chisunka said it was sad that Government was allowing foreigners to invest in sectors that would should be handled by locals.
He said the reservation of some sectors for locals would help empower the majority of the people in the country.