By MAYA NTANDA  –

VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott has unveiled the new US$14 million Barloworld Kitwe facility with the assurance that the investment would be safeguarded.
Dr Scott said the facility was an investment that supported Governments’ social-economic growth targets particularly in the mining industry, which was a strong contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said this in a speech read for him by Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda during the unveiling of the plaque at the Barloworld Equipment facility.
Dr Scott said the Copperbelt Province was one of the major GDP contributors and a priority focus for the Government.
“It’s a US$14 million investment in the future of Zambia and its people. What a magnificent facility, which holds so much promise,” he said
The Vice President said the importance of Public Private Partnership (PPP) was that it played a role in unlocking the value of the mining industry and in grooming youths.
Dr Scott said just like the mineral wealth, the country was also rich in talent and that young people aspiring to have careers in mining and construction, gained inspiration from CAT machines they saw being used in building roads and other infrastructure.
“Mining and construction serves as a catalyst for change and with it job creation. As the Zambian Government, creating employment is our number one priority,” he said.
Dr Scott was confident that Barloworld Equipment, which was celebrating its 20th anniversary as the CAT dealer for Zambia, was in the country to stay and grow with Zambians.
He noted that the Link Zambia 8, 000 project, which was set to upgrade 8, 000 kilometres of roads countrywide, was also creating unprecedented demand for earth moving equipment.
Dr Scott said the Link Zambia 8, 000 project was spurring new opportunities for Zambian Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s), who were leading their own contracts and working in joint venture with some of the world’s top construction companies.
Minister of Mines Energy and Water Development Christopher Yaluma said mining remained a major bedrock for the Zambian economy.
Mr Yaluma said in a speech read for him by his deputy Richard Musukwa that Government would continue to provide an enabling environment in which business could thrive for the benefit of investors and Zambians.
Caterpillar customer and dealer support group president Stu Levenick said since 2010, the CAT Foundation had invested more than $40 million to enable growth and investment through accessing clean water, energy and micro-finance in Africa.
Mr Levenick said the unveiling of the new Kitwe facility was an impressive milestone and an indication of the commitment of Caterpillar through Barloworld in its investment plans in Africa.