BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes
@SunZambia
ZAMBIA’S economic growth is still positive despite Government’s delay in concluding discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Lusaka Securities Exchange (LSE) chief executive officer, Priscilla Sampa has said.
Ms Sampa said growth possibilities were still there because exports had increased and copper prices was strong.
She however said the delay in concluding discussions with the IMF could impact investor confidence and decisions.
She said this in Zambia’s Investor’s Road Map for 2019 report.
“The Government’s emphasis on industrialisation and the implementation of Multi-purpose Facility Economic Zones, we will not be so dependent on raw materials and will add value to them as well and this will help with exports and the current account,” Ms Sampa said.
Meanwhile, Ms Sampa said the capital markets had partnered with the Zambia Agricultural Commodities Exchange (ZAMACE) to promote the advancement of small scale farmers to commercial farming.
ZAMACE is an organised market place where buyers and sellers trade grains such as maize, soya beans, wheat, sunflower and groundnuts.
Ms Sampa said farmers can use the receipts obtained from ZAMACE to borrow from commercial banks.
“The Government can assist in a Public Private Partnership because silos and warehouses are needed and policy changes are needed to derive the process. These farmers can become part of a business, rather than subsisting,” she said.
