• President Edgar Lungu (right) meets Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven at the United Nations in New York, United States of America on Friday, Picture by SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE

From PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –

in New York
SWEDEN has Praised Zambia’s progress in different sectors of its economy.
Swedish Prime Minister, Stafan Lofven commended Zambia for the remarkable progress the country has made in gender mainstreaming and other sectors since President Edgar Lungu took over power.
Mr Lofven also appealed for Zambia’s support in its bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the period 2017 to 2018.?
Mr Lofven made the appeal to President Edgar Lungu on Friday when the two leaders held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Mr Lofven said Zambia had recorded remarkable progress in the last eight months on issues of mainstreaming gender which he described as good for the development of the country.
He said Sweden would invest more in hydropower and his country would accelerate investments in the mining sector in Zambia.
Mr Lofven announced that he would instruct the Swedish ambassador to Zambia to liaise with Commerce Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe to agree on the increased Swedish private sector participation in the Zambian economy.
The prime minister noted with appreciation the Government’s ambition to revive the farming cooperatives as it was a major step towards rural development and job creation. In response, Mr Lungu assured Sweden of Zambia’s support in its bid for the UN Security Council seat.
President Lungu also requested the Swedish Government for support in areas of modernising health equipment, research, new healthcare technology such as diagnostic imaging machines, medical and laboratory equipment.
Mr Lungu underscored the need for more Swedish investment and urged Swedish investors to take advantage of the good environment in Zambia.
He said Zambia’s stable political environment, economic fiscal regime and policies offered great investment opportunities.
Mr Lungu invited Swedish investors to Zambia to explore opportunities in farming blocs that the Government has established.
The President said more investment opportunities existed in the mining, energy, infrastructure development, energy and tourism among others.