By KAIKO NAMUSA –

TOURISM and Arts Minister Jean Kapata is expected in Scotland to attend the Edinburgh International Culture Summit to be held at the Scottish Parliament from August 10-12, this year.

Edinburgh International Culture Summit press officer, Katy Jeffrey said the Zambian delegation led by Ms Kapata would join Culture Ministers and leading arts and culture experts from around the world to discuss the importance of cultural exchange.

Ms Jeffrey said the Zambian delegation was scheduled to take part in a series of discussions and debates around the theme ‘Culture – A Currency of Trust’. The theme reflected the Summit’s belief in the capacity of the arts and culture to build bridges of understanding between nations, states and cities.

The programme features a stellar line-up of speakers including Benjamin Barber from the City University of New York, Nandi Mandela, business woman and grand-daughter of Nelson Mandela; and Irina Bokova, director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Ms Kapata said ahead of the summit that Zambia considered culture as an important ingredient in the general development of the country.

“It is with great joy for me and my colleagues to join the rest of the world in this important cultural activity. The Zambian government considers culture as a very important ingredient in the general development of our nation.

“Not only has our culture been a unifying factor in our fifty (50) years of our political independence but it has also provided us with a unique tourism resource, upon which we are building our economy; creating employment and reducing poverty in various communities,” Ms Kapata said.

Director of the Edinburgh International Festival and Programme director of the Summit, Sir Jonathan Mills said the occasion existed to make an argument for culture and arts as an essential enlargement of the circumstances in which life existed.

“The Edinburgh International Culture Summit is a forum in which artists and leaders come together to discuss substantial, global issues of mutual interest, during the Edinburgh International Festival. It is a great pleasure to welcome politicians and practitioners from across the globe to Edinburgh at its most diverse and dynamic – to a wonderful city, in ‘full Festival’ flow,” Sir Mills said.