Pres. Lungu Gets UN Award
Media Statement
For Immediate Release
PRESIDENT LUNGU HONOURED FOR CHAMPIONING AFRICA’S INDUSTRALISATION
NEW YORK, USA, Thursday 27 September 2018
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has conferred a medal of recognition on His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia, as a champion of the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA3).
Minister of National Development Planning Honourable Alexander Chiteme received the medal on behalf of President Lungu at the High-level Event on enhancing global partnerships for IDDA3 under the theme: ‘key for successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)’ on Wednesday in New York, USA.
The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the on-going High-Level Segment of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly.
Honourable Chiteme thanked UNIDO and its partners for recognising President Lungu’s unwavering commitment to the industralisation and development of Africa, without leaving anyone behind.
Speaking during the ‘Interactive Dialogue with Ministers’, Mr. Chiteme called for level playing field if the African Continental Free Trade Area were to achieve its set targets.
“We need to go back and learn from past efforts of implementing free trade. We have to learn from the Regional Economic blocs. For example, we have COMESA where we are promoting trade. What are the successes and failures from there? We need to carry out case studies and see the benefits and advantages which we can carry forward to the continental free trade area.
“We need to play on a level field; our ICTs, infrastructure and all other socio-economic parameters should be put in place to make sure that we implement the AfCFTA as equals,” Minister Chiteme said.
UNIDO states that the vision for the implementation of IDDA3 is to firmly anchor Africa on a path towards inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
The necessary enabling framework conditions for this industrial transformation include the strengthening of key elements of industrial productive capacity, such as infrastructure, innovation and technology transfer, industrial financing, industrial knowledge and skills, and the support from public and private sector institutions that regulate and advocate industrial development.
The four guiding principles deemed critical to ensuring the successful implementation of IDDA3 include:
(a) Government ownership and leadership of the initiative;
(b) A strengthened enabling business environment;
(c) Sectors with high potential for growth, and which can therefore meaningfully contribute to the reduction of poverty, must be prioritized.
(d) Strong partnerships for financial and non-financial resource mobilization at the multilateral, regional and bilateral levels need to be built.
Issued by
Chibaula D. Silwamba (Mr.)
Spokesperson
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
Tel: +260211252409
Email: chibaula.silwamba@mndp.gov.zm Website: www.mndp.gov.zm