Zambia's Ambassador to Sweden Rose Salukatula after presenting her credentials.

By NDUBI MVULA, Lusaka.
UNDER the ambit of international relations, there is what is known as Economic diplomacy which deals with the nexus between power and wealth in international affairs.
Many a countries the world over have now shifted their attention and interest from political diplomacy to economic diplomacy which happens to be more sustaining the former.
Some think tanks say economic diplomacy not only promotes the State’s prosperity but also, as occasion demands and opportunity permits, manipulates its foreign commercial and financial relations in support of its foreign policy.
Accordingly, economic diplomacy is a major theme of the external relations of virtually all countries.
At home, economic ministries, trade and investment promotion bodies, chambers of commerce, and of course foreign ministries, are all participants in economic work which they undertake diligently.
Current trends include increasing collaboration between state and non-official agencies, and increased importance given to the World Trade Organisation issues, the negotiation of free trade and preferential trade agreements, and accords covering investments, double taxation avoidance, financial services and the like.
In this vain, Zambia is not sitting with arms akimbo as through its missions abroad a lot of interactions are being carried out by all diplomats in all the economic sectors of the country’s economy such as health, tourism, education, agriculture, technology to itemise just a few.
A visit to Sweden, at the Zambian Embassy, reveals that that country has embarked on the preparation of a Strategy Paper on Development Cooperation with Zambia for 2018-2023.
Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Head of African Department Helena Rietz, says the document which will spell out areas of cooperation would be concluded soon.
This came to light when Zambia's Ambassador to Sweden Rose Salukatula called on Ms Rietz in Stockholm, Sweden.
And Ambassador Salukatula is also on a marathon tour to meet stakeholders in order to woo investments to Zambia, following the presentation of her Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustav on 9th November, 2017.
According to a media release by First Secretary Political and Administration at the Zambian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden Patrick Lubundo says following Ambassador Salukatula’s arrival in that country a series of meetings have been lined up all for the purpose of strengthening economic bonds.
He says already, a team of business people from various sectors in Sweden are set to travel to Zambia in April next year 2018.
Mr Lubundo says the Swedish delegation is expected to meet officials from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) as well as the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI).
This was disclosed when Swedish-Southern African Chamber of Commerce (SSACC) President Åsa Jarskog and her Vice President Eva Hytenget paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Salukatula at the Zambian Chancery in Stockholm, Sweden.
And Ambassador Salukatula says the move to meet Government officials, the business community and stakeholders such as the Chambers of commerce is in a bid to woo investors to Zambia.
She says her Embassy is interested in investments particularly in the agriculture, energy, fisheries and waste management sectors, as well as value addition as major areas of investment interest for Zambia.
Ambassador also met with officials from Sorokours of Trust Group AB and Industrial Frontiers who all agreed to partner with the Embassy to woo investment in various sectors to Zambia.
“Earlier, she met the Dean of the SADC Group, H.E. Mrs. Frances Victória Rodrigues, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Mozambique to Sweden, Ambassadors of Botswana, Angola and Namibia before meeting the Dean of the Africa Group, H.E. Mr. André Hombessa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Congo to Sweden,” he says.
During her engagements with her counterparts, the Ambassador called for continued cooperation at Ambassadorial level to enhance the good relations that are enjoyed at State level.
Abroad, embassies, consulates, and trade offices handle economic diplomacy with the main focus being on promotion, to attract foreign business, investments, technology and tourists.
Therefore, economic diplomacy connects closely with political, public and other segments of diplomatic work.
Ends.

Zambia to host region's largest vaccine plant

Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya in a high level meeting Chinese counterpart Bin Li in Beijing. Picture By Stanslous Ngosa.

By NDUBI MVULA
THE Chinese Government will construct a dedicated National Public Health Laboratory that will serve both as a national and southern African regional reference laboratory.
The facility will enhance the detection of high risk pathogens (infections) using modern techniques.
Chinese Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission Dr Li Bin said establishing the National Public Health Laboratory will serve as reference facility for the Africa CDC Southern Africa
Regional Collaborating Centre.
This came to light when Dr Li held bilateral health cooperation meeting with her Zambian counterpart Dr Chitalu Chilufya.
In a media release obtained from Ministry of Health Head of Communications and External Relations Stanslous Ngosa, Dr Li believes that close collaboration between the two countries will assist the building of Africa CDC and strengthen African countries capacity for public health services.
She said China will provide experts to work with Zambian counterparts over a period of time to transfer skills and knowledge to technical staff at the National Public Health Institute.
Dr Li said China will help Zambia attain one of her legacy goals of eliminating Malaria by 2030 and will also provide the expertise to fight malaria, as doing so will further enhance the bilateral health cooperation between the two countries.
And Dr Chilufya expressed gratitude at the Chinese Government’s gesture to help Zambia strengthen her health systems adding that the move will cement and take bilateral relations to another level beyond business but brotherhood.
Dr Chilufya said the support to the health sector will contribute to the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.
He said capacity building in emergency response and surgery as well as provision of surgical equipment and supplies will significantly improve the health systems.
Dr Chilufya has thanked the Chinese for showing interest to support various fields of nuclear science to improve electricity supply, medical treatment, irradiation processing and manufacturing of medical supplies among others.
Meanwhile, one of Chinese leading pharmaceutical companies, China Sinopharm International Corporation has partnered with the Ministry of Health to construct Vaccines and Medicines Company in Zambia.
The construction works will start as soon as the technical discussions are concluded and Memorandum of Understanding signed.
Some of the vaccines to be produced includes yellow, bOPV, HepB (birth Dose), IPV, Sabin Strain, Rota (3-Valent) Measles and HPV.
A Zambian delegation led by Zambia National Public Health Institute Director Dr Victor Mukonka are on a 10 day bilateral technical discussions on areas of collaboration and cooperation with the China
CDC.
Those in the delegation include Dr Kunda Musonda Head Laboratory Systems and Networking, Dr Muzala Kapina Head National Surveillance and Disease Intelligence and Dr Andrew Silumesi Director Public Health MoH.
The rest are Prof Aaron Mweene University of Zambia School of Veterinary and Dr Modest Mulenga Director Tropical Diseases Research Centre.

Media major player in tourism marketing

Tourism Media Master Class in session at Raddison Blu.

By NDUBI MBULA, Lusaka.
ZAMBIA Tourism Agency (ZTA) Chief Executive Officer Felix Chaila says for Zambia to market the tourism to the whole world, the media has to come on board as it holds a pivotal role in the sector.

Mr Chaila said this when he launched the Media Tourism Master Class which he believes will help the Agency develop a cadre of Journalists that would specialise in reporting on the sector.

"Media must always play its significant role in the marketing of tourism to the outside world as well as at local level. Our desire is to expect that this Media Master Class touches you all, " he said.

Mr Chaila also added that his Agency decided to come up with this Class so as to create long lasting relatonship with the media.

He said the idea for a Media Tourism Master Class is to effectivelly market the sector and articulate issues ably well.

Mr Chaila was speaking yesterday when he officially opened the two-day Media Tourism Master Class workshop at Radisson Blu.

Mr Chaila added that tourism on the world map has been elevated to second position from the chemical industry in similar manner that the Zambian Govrnment has re-classified the sector as second from agriculture.

He said this was plus to the organisation and commended President Edgar Lungu for upgrading the sector.

Mr Chaila also noted that it was for this reason that the Agency decuded to have the media on board.

"The Zambia Tourism Agency has taken a deliberate effort to engage and form strong bonds with the media for purposes of enhancing our relationships. Media are playing an important role in the growth and development and promotion by creating a better awareness and understanding to cater for the needs and requirements of domestic and international tourist," he said.

He said every traveller is a potential tourist be it local or foreign and it depends upon the campaign of professionals who are the media of the industry to top the potential and convert the potential into actual clients.

Mr Chaila stated that the role of the Agency is not to develop tourism centres but instead to market the tourism sites dotted around the country.

He has encouraged journalists to develop interest in various sectors of tourism such as bird watching, safari walks and drives which stand out as the best in the world.

Mr Chaila also noted that there is a new policy shift by governmemt in the sector from the previous stand of Government led private sector driven to the current government participation.

He also added that above all, a country's people and traditional ceremonies also make up the full package.

Mr Chaila however, noted that the Agency faces challenges such as in staffing which is supposed to be 55 but there is only 22 to cover the entire country.

Also noted was the fact that the Agency does not have adequate official representation in the overseas market and locally based regional offices as well as lowest tourism budget in the region.

He said border crossing challenges and airline connectivity is very cardinal.

Mr Chaila added that the nature of police road blocks dotted in many parts of the country also deter tourists from frequenting the country.