IT appears some people in this country never run short of issues to pick on against the Government at the expense of development. A case in point is the debate that has surrounded president Banda's trips abroad, made for the benefit of the country.

We have no doubt that if the president never interacted with his colleagues at regional and international level, all in the hope of attracting investments to this country, the same critics would have been heard complaining that he makes no effort to sell the country abroad.

Just for the record, presidential trips are inevitable in a president's job description, especially for a developing country like ours which needs investments, because that is one of the ways in which investors are attracted to the country.

Apart from investment opportunities, presidential trips cannot be avoided because leaders within the region and far a field have to meet as heads of state and governments to discuss issues affecting the globe.

It is surprising that some opposition leaders shout blue murder each time the president travels even for the Southern African Development community (SADC) and COMESA meetings which are attended by other heads of state in the region.

Despite economists belabouring the point that the trips bring investments to the country, these politicians for obvious reason refuse to look at the bigger picture and acknowledge the economic benefits of such sojourns.

Today, newly elected Economics Association of Zambia president Noel Nkhoma is adding his voice to this debate stating that international trips were necessary as they are a weapon for triggering business opportunities and investments for the country.

He goes a step further to suggest that the president should in fact include Zambian business men and women to maximise the benefits to the country.

Only recently British Prime Minister David Cameron visited India on an official trip and was accompanied by 200 business persons all in the hope of attracting Indian investments into Britain.

President Banda has on some of his business trips included business executives who have forged partnerships abroad and replicated what they have witnessed in other countries.

Zambia is in dire need of investments and these will not come if deliberate efforts are not made to market the country.

And who is better to assure investors that their investments will be safe, than the president himself.

Economic issues must not be politicised because it is the country which stands to lose.