. Nordstrom

By KENNEDY MUPESENI? –
ZAMBIA and Sweden has recorded about K600 million in export and import volumes in the last year, Swedish Ambassador to Zambia Lena Nordstrom has said.
Ms Nordstrom said four Swedish companies had expressed interest to invest in Zambia’s energy, agriculture and the mining sector.?Ms Nordstrom said in an interview in Lusaka that the expected investment in the key economic sectors would also increasing Swedish presence in the country.
Ms Nordstrom said in an interview that the two countries were looking at increasing trade between the two countries, saying the volumes of exports and imports were around K600 million which she noted needed to improve.
Ms Nordstrom said Zambia needed to increase exports to Sweden, especially agricultural products which had immense potential to contribute to economic boost.
“We will continue working with the country in the area of economic corporation, trade and investment, and about four companies from Sweden have expressed interest to invest in Zambia’s energy, agriculture and mining and that will increase investment by the Swedish companies in the country,” she said.
She said Sweden would support farmers in selected farming blocs to cultivate more than 20,000 hectares of land under irrigation.
Ms Nordstrom said this would see more production and contribute to national growth as farming should not only depend on rains.
Ms Nordstrom said her country would also continue working with farmers and agribusiness organisations to increase access to finance for farmers without collateral, who find it difficult to access loans.
She said through the Musika Development Zambia and the Zambia National Farmers’ Union loan guarantees were being issued to farmers to help them access loans from banks and that this would boost agricultural production.