A large number of businessmen in Egypt and Zambia participated in the conference, among them were His Excellency the Minister of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Zambia “Chipuka Mulenga”, the representative of the Association in the State of Zambia “Danny Simumba”, and the Director of Extrusion Works Ltd and DiTec Engineering “Mr. Joseph Malizawa”. Ms. Bernard M. Shiwala, Lusaka Avocado Chairperson, Owner and Managing Director Mupapa Wood – Lusaka Ms. Ruth Ironside, CEO of Kakanga Food Suppliers Limited Ms. Grace Ngapao Efrati, Business Development Coordinator and Pioneer Mr. David Moteke and CEO of the Zambia Association of Manufacturers, Mrs. Florence Mulia.
Elsharkawi stressed that the association enhances investment and trade opportunities with Zambia as well as between all African countries, stressing Egypt’s constant keenness to enhance economic cooperation with the Republic of Zambia, by taking real and clear steps to achieve economic integration and encourage trade exchange between the two countries.
He added that trade relations between Egypt and Zambia are witnessing a significant and remarkable development, stressing that there are several Egyptian companies operating in Zambia, and that a large number of companies have a desire to invest and expand in the Republic of Zambia.
This came during Dr. Yousrey Elsharkawi welcoming speech to all the speakers, led by the Zambian Minister of Trade and Industry “Chibuka Mulenga”, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia in Cairo, “Mag Jane Mulambo”.
El-Sharqawy also emphasized that the Egyptian private sector is always looking forward to inviting the African business community to re-examine and discuss what they can offer. To support intra-African investment and trade.
He stressed that this meeting aims primarily at presenting a number of theses and investment, commercial and economic opportunities in the Republic of Zambia. Elsharkawi concluded his welcome speech by saying, “Our mission is to cooperate with our African brothers, and we, as an Egyptian association, are looking forward to working in the African financial and business community.”
Dr. Yousrey Elsharkawi confirmed that the “Zambia Trade and Business Day” conference was held with systematic objectives as follows:
– Presenting the experiences of entrepreneurs in Zambia, and their success stories outside the borders.
– Networking, establishing profitable relationships, and providing marketing services that Zambian business people can best serve to the Afro-European Businessmen Association and its members.
– Identify and attract potential foreign investors between Zambia and Egypt to implement profitable projects for all partners.
– Showcase the competitive advantages that helped companies in Zambia to export their products
– Show the characteristics that companies in Zambia are looking for when engaging or contracting with suppliers from abroad.
– How to start export business to and from Zambia?
– Presenting challenges in promoting trade and partnerships in joint ventures between Zambia, Egypt or other African countries and possible solutions to those challenges.
The floor was passed on to Mr. Danny Simumba, representative of the African Egyptians in the Republic of Zambia; To welcome and introduce the speakers. During his speech, he thanked the president of the association for his encouragement of private Egyptian companies; To enter the Zambian market, and explore opportunities for cooperation with Zambian companies; To the benefit of both countries.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia in Egypt, Mag Jane Mulambo, stressed the need to reach an appropriate mechanism to help the African peoples in this difficult period faced by the whole world as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and indicated that there are distinct opportunities for Zambia to access the Egyptian market, due to the multiplicity of important sources that Industries need it, including: minerals, water sources, and forests, which are a main source of timber. He added that Egypt has a strong infrastructure, and praised the Egyptian workforce and its strong participation in the progress of the Egyptian and African business community.
Mr. Joseph Malizawa praised the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area, stressing that it provides the Republic of Zambia with huge export opportunities, stressing that it is a large African market that includes 54 countries, a population of more than 1.3 billion people and a purchasing power of about 3 trillion US dollars.
He noted that estimates in Zambia show that SMEs account for 97 percent of all businesses in the country, 70 percent of GDP, and 88 percent of employment, providing a significant share of income for the majority of Zambia’s working population.
He added that the small and medium enterprises sector in Zambia is one of the main sectors that contribute to reducing poverty and creating new job opportunities.
He stressed that the Zambian government will seek to facilitate the integration of small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives into the AfCFTA markets, by enhancing the sector’s capacity to participate in regional and global value chains and promoting skills development.
The “Zambia Trade and Business Day” conference came out with a large number of recommendations. At the conclusion of the day, Dr. Yousrey Elsharkawi expressed his happiness with this event, stressing that it is time to exploit the economic potentials available in the two countries, and called on investors in Zambia and Egypt to hold other discussion sessions; To encourage the Egyptian-Zambian business community and to promote the exchange of investment and trade opportunities among them.