Rebecca Mushota
6 July 2009
A one-stop border post will be established between Zambia and Tanzania to facilitate economic co-operation between the two countries, President Rupiah Banda has said.
Mr Banda said the one-stop border post to be established at Nakonde on the Zambian side and Tunduma on the Tanzanian side was part of the efforts by the two governments to provide a conducive atmosphere for the private sector to conduct business.
He appealed to the private sector to take advantage of the cordial relations between the two countries and establish joint ventures to enhance development.
" It is in this regard that I appeal to the business sector of both countries to take advantage of the conducive environment to create joint ventures," he said.
President Banda was speaking at a luncheon hosted in honour of the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete at Mukuba Hotel in Ndola yesterday.
The president said that without a vibrant private sector, a sustained economic growth could not be attained.
He said the participation of business houses in the two countries' trade fairs was an indication of the desire by the private sector to participate in the growth of the economy and that the two Governments needed to provide enabling economies.
Zambia was inspired to cooperate with Tanzania in many sectors of the economy because of the presence of peace and the economic growth rates of that country, Mr Banda said.
He said Tanzania had registered a growth rate of 7.1 per cent in 2008 and continued to enjoy peace coupled with solid macro economic policies.
"In view of these developments, Zambia is inspired to cooperate with Tanzania in many sectors such as transport, communication, tourism, agriculture and trade," Mr Banda said.
He commended President Kikwete for the successes Tanzania had scored in political and economic growth saying that Zambia had been keen in following with keen intrest Tanzania's development.
Zambia was committed to the friendly and solid relations with Tanzania because there were anchored on a firm foundation laid by founding fathers, Dr Kenneth Kaunda and the late Julius Nyerere.
The two former presidents, Mr Banda said, did not only struggle together for the independene of the two countries, but also struggled to liberate other countries in Africa.
President Banda said achievements like the Tazara Railway line and the Tazama oil pipeline construction had been noted but that further investment in infrastructure should be made.
He was confident that the US$1.2 billion pledged by cooperating partners following the Comesa-EAC-SADC conference would be channeled to railway, road and energy infrastructure to improve trade among countries in the region.
And Mahtani Group of Companies, the sponsors of the luncheon, chairperson Rajan Mahtani said it was because of the Government's enabling environment that the company had continued to grow.
Mr Mahtani said together with the PTA Bank, Finance Bank of the group was able to ensure that there was a smooth supply of oil to Indeni and Tazama.
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