. Kalaba

By KASONDE KASONDE –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is next week Monday expected in Israel for a five-day state visit at the invitation of his counterpart Reuven Rivlin.
Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba said the President would meet with the Israeli president and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Kalaba said the President was also expected to officiate at a business forum organised by the Israeli and Zambian chambers of Commerce and Industry which would focus on investment opportunities within the two countries.
He was speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.
“We are all aware that Israel is a technologically advanced market economy and is globally renowned to have made significant strides in areas such as water management. Our country therefore stands to gain a lot in terms of shared best practices with Israel across several sectors,” Mr Kalaba said.
He said the delegation to Israel would include cabinet ministers from Agriculture, Health, Commerce and Industry, Energy, Tourism and Arts among others.
Mr Kalaba said Mr Lungu would also be accompanied by a business delegation in order to accord an opportunity to the private sector representatives of both countries to interact and forge business partnerships.
He said the visit would further provide Mr Lungu and his delegation an important opportunity to market the numerous business opportunities that Zambia has to offer with the view to attract Israeli investment into Zambia.
And in the face of xenophobic attacks in some parts of South Africa, Mr Kalaba assured the nation that Zambians living in that country were safe.
He said the two countries enjoyed a robust relationship and Zambians are safe and operating without hindrances.