TEDDY KUYELA, Lusaka
MINISTER of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba says the Zambia-Serbia relations need to be rekindled to help boost the economic, trade and political relations that have remained dormant for a long time.
Mr Kalaba said Zambia and Serbia share a lot of common interests dating back to when it was part of Yugoslavia in 1964, but that there has been little interaction lately, leading to non-existent of trade volumes.
He said this in Belgrade, Serbia where he was on a two-day working visit.
This is according to a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by Ministry of Foreign Affairs public relations officer Alick Banda.
Mr Kalaba said Zambia and Serbia need to work together and sign a number of memoranda of understanding such as in education, military, agriculture and sports areas.
He said these areas could bring the two peoples together again and enhance economic, political and cultural relations.
Mr Kalaba called on Serbia to invest in Zambia and allow business delegations to explore the immense investment opportunities in Zambia.
And Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic, who is also First Deputy Prime Minister, says Zambia and Serbia have had only US$27,000 of trade volume, which is not a good sign and that efforts need to be put in place to change that picture.
Mr Dacic said Serbia has good relations with many African countries and is ready to improve the relations even further.
He commended the founding fathers of Zambia and Serbia for bringing the two countries together during times of struggle for independence and war periods.
And speaking when he visited Nelt Company, Mr Kalaba commended management at Nelt for operating in Zambia and ensuring that Zambians are empowered with skills and knowledge.
He said Nelt, which works as a distribution and transportation company in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, serves as a good example of good business investment practice where the locals are fully empowered.
