President Banda’s speech on investment AS WE COME TO THE CLOSE OF THE SEVENTH ZIBAC MEETING, I WISH TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE FRUITFUL DELIBERATIONS HELD YESTERDAY. FROM THE PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS, IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT ZAMBIA HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT AND STEADY PROGRESS IN CREATING A FAVOURABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR INVESTMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH. I AM CONVINCED THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THE RIGHT REFORMS AND THAT THESE REFORMS ARE NOW YIELDING POSITIVE RESULTS. ALMOST ALL THE SECTORS ARE GROWING AND IN SOME CASES, THE GROWTH IS UNPRECEDENTED SUCH AS IN THE AGRICULTURE AND MINING SECTORS. INDEED WE NEED TO BE PROUD OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS. CHAIRMAN, EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NOTWITHSTANDING THE ACHIEVEMENTS MADE, IT HAS ALSO BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR DURING OUR DISCUSSIONS THAT THERE IS STILL A LOT THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT. OF SIGNIFICANCE, IS THE NEED FOR POLICY COHERENCE AND IMPROVED COORDINATION AMONG GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS TO AVOID CONTRADICTIONS IN THE REFORM PROCESS. WE NEED TO MOVE WITH RENEWED STRENGTH AND VIGOR IN IMPLEMENTING THE REFORMS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE COUNTRY. WE WERE REMINDED THAT WE ARE OPERATING IN A GLOBAL WORLD AND TO BE COMPETITIVE, WE NEED TO REDUCE THE COST OF PRODUCTION AND ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY. IT IS WITH THIS IN MIND THAT, SKILLS TRAINING AND INCREASED USE OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY HAVE BEEN PRIORITISED IN THE SIXTH NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN. THE WAY FORWARD REQUIRES TOTAL COMMITMENT BY ALL GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES THAT FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION. AS I STATED IN MY OPENING REMARKS, I EXPECT ALL GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS TO EMBRACE PRIVATE SECTOR REFORMS AND IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SEVENTH ZIBAC. THE SUCCESS OF THE REFORM PROGRAMME WILL REQUIRE A CHANGE OF MIND SET IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE. MY GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO ENHANCING THE PROGRAMMES TO CHANGE THE MINDSET WITHIN THE PUBLIC SERVICE SO THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS VIEWED AS A VALUABLE PARTNER RATHER THAN A COMPETING ENTITY. I WILL ENSURE THAT THERE IS TOTAL COMMITMENT TO THE REFORMS BY MY CABINET AND ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WE ARE NOT MARKETING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS ENOUGH. WE MUST EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE ALL OF OUR SUCCESSES WITHIN ZAMBIA AND OUTSIDE SO THAT EVERYONE CAN APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED. IN CONCLUSION, I WISH TO THANK OUR INTERNATIONAL ADVISORS FOR THE INVALUABLE ADVICE. YOUR PRESENTATIONS AND INSIGHTS SHOW CLEARLY THAT THERE IS A LOT OF GROUND WE NEED TO COVER TO REACH WHERE WE DESIRE TO BE. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS FOR US TO GET THE BASICS RIGHT. LET ME ALSO THANK THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR THEIR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE A LISTENING GOVERNMENT. AFTER ALL, YOU ARE OUR PARTNERS IN WEALTH AND JOB CREATION AND POVERTY REDUCTION. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR DEEPER AND WIDER REFORMS WHILE ENSURING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF WHAT WE HAVE ATTAINED. EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AS YOU TRAVEL BACK TO YOUR RESPECTIVE DESTINATIONS, I WISH YOU ALL SAFE TRIPS.