By JAMES KUNDA –
THE Government will consolidate Joint Permanent Commissions (JPCs) with a number of countries to boost multilateral trade and cooperation, Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba has said.
Mr Kalaba said in an interview yesterday that the Government wants JPCs to be strengthened to open up the country for more trade thereby creating jobs and wealth for the people.
This follows a directive by President Edgar Lungu during the recent visit by his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete, that JPCs needed to be enhanced.
“We are already aiming to strengthen our JPCs with countries like Ghana, Botswana and Angola, to open up Zambia and enhance multilateral trade and cooperation to improve the livelihoods of our people,” he said.

. Kalaba

Mr Kalaba said the country’s international profile had continued to improve owing to the contribution Zambia was making to the economic emancipation of most countries in the region.
“Zambia plays a key role in fostering economic growth of countries in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and Southern Africa Development Community. This has fostered our international profile and maintained the image as correct,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Zambian delegation will soon visit Japan to interact with various business people and organisations following the recent visit of Japanese entrepreneurs to Zambia.
“The visit is all about going to interact with our colleagues and exchange views on how to succeed in various business sectors such as technology and manufacturing,” he said.
President Lungu said there was need for the Japanese to create business partnerships with their Zambian counterparts in areas of trade and investment.