ZAMBIA INVITES INVESTORS UNDER PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CONCEPT

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) -- Zambia is inviting Malaysian investors to
participate in the public-private partnership concept to develop the African
country economically.

This will help Zambia to become a middle-income country by 2030, said its
Deputy Finance and National Planning Minister David Phiri at the "Seminar on
Business and Investment Opportunities in Zambia" here Monday.

The key sectors available for investment in Zambia include roads,
agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, telecommunications, mining, manufacturing
call centres and renewable energy.

Zambia is strategically positioned to provide prospective businesses and
investors access to two large regional markets, comprising the Southern African
Development Community and the common market for eastern and southern Africa,
Phiri said.

"Zambia also boasts of other market opportunities through agreements and
membership to the European Union through the Everything But Arms Initiative, the
United States through American Growth and Opportunities Initiative, and market
access initiatives with Canada, China and Japan," he said.

The seminar was organised by the High Commission of Zambia in collaboration
with the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA).

MIDA deputy director-general Afifuddin Abdul Kadir said Malaysia,
which has achieved a fairly high level of economic development, is now
well-positioned to pursue cross-border investment.

"It is increasingly important for Malaysian companies to expand and to
venture beyond the country's geographical boundary and tap new trade and
investment opportunities, " he said.

Afifuddin said there were currently more than 700 Malaysian companies with
investment overseas.

He said from statistical data, total investment abroad in 2009 amounted to
RM30.5 billion (US$1=RM3.19) and the major areas of investment were in quarrying
and mining, financial intermediation, services, agriculture, manufacturing and
construction.

Describing the seminar as a platform for networking and strengthening
business relationship between Zambia and Malaysia, Afifuddin said total
bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to RM62.3 million in 2009.

He said from January to May 2010, total trade amounted to RM24.4 million,
with exports at RM2.9 million and imports at RM21.4 million.

Major exports and imports were in manufactured products, agricultural goods
and mining products, he added.

-- BERNAMA