By JAMES KUNDA –
JAPANESE companies have shown interest of investing in Zambia’s mineral resources, Japanese parliamentary Vice Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Yashihiko Isozaki has said.
He said Japan was willing to explore the available mining investment opportunities in Zambia.
Mr Isozaki said Japan was also hoping to develop projects in unexplored areas such as oil and gas and carry out mineral explorations with trained Zambian engineers.
He said this when he conferred with Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma on the sidelines of the ongoing 20th annual Investing in Africa Mining Indaba in Capetown, South Africa.
“Japan’s four basic initiatives for Africa include resource investment promotion and infrastructure improvement, which involves dispatching fact-finding missions, and human resource development and sustainable resource development through sharing legal experiences and technological developments in curbing mine pollution,” he said.
Mr Isozaki said Japan will this year send a high level delegation to Zambia to explore mining investment in the country.
This is contained in a statement made available by first secretary for press at Zambia’s high commission to South Africa Patson Chilemba.
And Mr Yaluma said Zambia needed Japanese assistance in areas such as capacity building to sustain the mining industry because there was serious lack of it in both financial and human resource.
“That is why I feel elated on your pronouncement of sending a team to come and look at mining investment,” Mr Yaluma told Mr Isozaki.
Mr Yaluma said Zambia was trying to move into a new direction where mining companies would not just focus on mining, but should consider addressing social needs of the communities they operated in.
Meanwhile, Mr Yaluma yesterday led the Zambian delegation, which includes Mines Deputy Minister Richard Musukwa and deputy High Commissioner to South African Joe Kaunda, during the official opening of the Indaba at Cape Town Convention centre.
The minister is expected to deliver a speech during the four-day event which has attracted thousands of delegates from across the globe.
