By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –
GOVERNMENT has, through project support from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), raised over K300 million for the implementation of industrial yards.
The implementation of the industrial yards is expected to create over 16,000 jobs across the country.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe said that reaffirmed Government’s commitment to implementing  industrialisation and job creation strategy.
Ms Mwanakatwe said Government had raised over K333 million for the implementation of industrial clusters in eight provinces and intensified commercialisation of cassava in five provinces.
She said business development  services (BDS) in all provinces and youth development centres would also be strengthened.
Ms Mwanakatwe said Cabinet had approved funding for the skills development and entrepreneurship project for women and youths.
“I can now confirm to the nation that through this project supported by AfDB, we have raised K333 million to implement industrial yards in eight provinces.
“We have strengthened BDS in all provinces and strengthened Youth Development Centres,” she said.
Ms Mwanakatwe said this would be a transformational programme that would create at least 16,000 jobs this year.
The industrial yards would provide workshops for people involved in woodwork, automotive works, metals fabrication and agro processing.
The minister said the project would support the cassava agric-business value chain with a focus on commercialisation of cassava, which would involve improving the quality of planting materials and development activities.
The targeted provinces include Northern, Luapula,  North-Western and Copperbelt provinces.
“About 12,000 jobs are expected to be created especially  among women and youths in rural areas leading  to increased uptake of  cassava products to enhance food security and also increased  cassava utilisation for stock feed and industrial products such as starch,” she said.
Ms Mwanakatwe said business support centres would be established in provincial capitals of all the 10 provinces.
This would lead to more effective provision of business development services to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as the development of accredited business development services training programmes.
The minister said support would be provided to three youth development centres in Luapula, Northern and North-Western provinces and that this would create 200 jobs for the youth at each centre by linking them to various activities in the value chain.
With the AfDB, Government was proceeding with the construction and operationalisation of industrial yards in Mansa, Kasama, Solwezi, Chipata, Mongu, Lusaka, Kitwe and Ndola.
Ms Mwanakatwe said Government was working to raise money from other sources to ensure that Kabwe and Choma received industrial yards soon.