MALANJI WOES INVESTORS

Minister of Foreign Affairs Joe Malanji has urged Hikma, a leading Jordanian London Stock Exchange listed pharmaceutical company, to invest in Zambia’s pharmaceutical industry.
Speaking during a meeting with Hikma Pharmaceuticals Vice Chairman, Mazan Darwazeh in the Jordanian capital, Amman yesterday, Mr. Malanji said Zambia needs increased investment in the pharmaceutical industry.
He said this is because of the high demand for quality healthcare by citizens and a growing middle class able to pay for improved health services.
The Minister further explained that Zambia’s pharmaceutical industry had continued to register strong growth mainly due to the increase in population.
He added that government had introduced the health insurance scheme aimed at finding a sustainable financing mechanism for the health sector and increased access to healthcare for citizens.
Mr. Malanji urged Hikma Pharmaceuticals to undertake a business Mission to Zambia to explore possibilities of investing in Zambia.
The Minister also informed Mr. Darwazeh that Zambia’s geographical position gives advantage to the company to produce within Zambia and use trade agreements under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa -COMESA- and Southern African Development Community -SADC- to export to member countries.
In response, Mr. Darwazeh indicated that the Pharmaceutical company will undertake a business Mission to Zambia and study the Zambian pharmaceutical market.
Mr. Malanji is in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to attend the high-level Aqaba Process follow-up meeting on East Africa in the coastal city of Aqaba.
The Minister who is representing President Edgar Lungu, is among Heads of State and Government invited by His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein to attend the meeting scheduled for today and tomorrow.
This is according to a statement released to ZNBC News by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in Amman in Jordan Jerry Munthali.