By JAMES KUNDA –

FIFTEEN Chinese business executives representing various companies?have expressed interest of investing in Mufulira District which is one?of the mineral-rich areas of the Copperbelt Province.
The business executives led by Changfa Mineral Resources president?George Huang recently toured the district to explore prospects of?investment in various sectors including manufacturing.
The investors showed interest in establishing textiles, steel and?cement plants in the border, mining district.?According to Mufulira District Commissioner Chanda Kabwe, the investors?seemed serious about investing in the area.
“The Chinese business executives are interested in setting up textile,?steel and cement plants in the district once they complete their?investment paper work with the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and?this will be to the benefit of the people in Mufulira,” he said in a?statement yesterday.
“The need to diversify from the mining into other sectors of the?economy by the Chinese is a good step into the future owing to the?good business policies and a conducive environment for investment?created by the Government,” he said.
Mr Kabwe said once the textile, steel and cement projects were fully?operational, Mufulira would be a hub for growth on the Copperbelt as?these developments would create direct and indirect employment?opportunities for the people.
He said the Chinese business delegates were happy with the business?opportunities currently available to be exploited and to make Mufulira an?industrial haven of the Copperbelt.
“Zambia is centrally located in Africa and it is an investors’ paradise?due to its economic stability, which is why I am appealing to both the?local and foreign investors to ply their investment here and make the?country duly-industrialised to earn more foreign exchange,” he said.