CHIKWANDA
By JAMES KUNDA-
THE Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) has said the proposed increase in customs duty on roofing sheets to 30 per cent effective January 1, 2015, will promote value addition and stimulate investment in the steel manufacturing industry.
ZAM chief executive officer Maybin Nsupila said in an interview at the weekend that the move to increase customs duty on roofing sheets announced by Finance minster Alexander Chikwanda during the presentation of the K46.7 billion 2015 National Budget, would create jobs for people in steel manufacturing.
“The pronouncement by the minister regarding the customs duty on roofing sheets will promote value addition from the lower levels and increase investments that would in-turn spur employment opportunities in the industry,” he said.
Mr Nsupila said ZAM also supported the proposed 25 per cent increase on customs duty for explosives as this was an incentive for the local manufacturing industry to maximise on production.
Meanwhile, Mr Nsupila said the directive by Mr Chikwanda that Government departments should source locally produced goods was a welcome measure that will spur growth of the manufacturing industry.
“Government departments such as education, for example, have been importing desks even when the local industry has the known capacity to produce these items hence, the directive by the minister on government departments’ sourcing locally is a move in the right direction,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Private Sector Development Association (PSDA) says the 2015 National Budget did not encompass enough incentives to support the growth of the private sector participating in the economic cycle.
PSDA chairperson Yusuf Dodia said in a separate interview that the 2015 budget did not highlight what measures would be implemented to help the private sector thrive in sectors such as tourism and mining.
“The 2015 budget has not clearly outlined the growth of the private sector in areas such as tourism and mining and these are critical to the growth of the economy,” he said.
