By REBECCA MUSHOTA in Seoul –
THE Zambia’s Ambassador to South Korea, Wylbur Simuusa has said that a leading South Korean think-tank has indicated that its members will visit Zambia soon to analyse the best way the country could record fast economic growth.
Mr Simuusa said this was important because while South Korea shared similarities in their background, the Asian country had, within a generation, recorded tremendous economic growth to rank among the economic powerhouses of the world.
He said it was impressive that South Korea had achieved this with far much less natural resources as compared to Zambia’s.
Mr Simuusa said it was, therefore, appropriate that Zambia drew lessons from South Korea.
He said this on Monday when a delegation of Zambians attending the Green Climate Fund 19th Board meeting in Songdo visited him at the Zambian Embassy in Seoul.
The delegation was led by the ministries of National Development Planning and Energy permanent secretaries Chola Chabala and Emelda Chola, respectively.
Mr Simuusa said the achievements recorded in the past years should be acknowledged and Zambia should draw lessons.
“We need to ask ourselves what is it in a people that they have which has led them to record such growth within a generation,” Mr Simuusa said.
Mr Simuusa said South Korea was a fast-growing and stable economy in the world.
It has one of the strongest economies in the world and is fourth in Asia.
South Korea is the first in Information Communication Technology in the world.
Mr Simuusa said South Korea also presented opportunities for Zambia in terms of investment and technology transfer.
He said the embassy in South Korea was constantly engaging South Koreans to ensure that Zambia benefited from South Korea’s growth and cordial relations between the two countries.
Mr Simuusa said Zambia should replicate South Korea’s credit guarantee scheme which contributed to that country’s economic growth.
South Korea’s Gross Domestic Product is about US$1.41trillion coming from a $2.42 billion in 1961.