Angolan Ambassador to Zambia, His Excellency, Mr. Azevedo Xavier Francisco says there is need to enhance the existing trade and economic relations between Zambia and Angola through increased trade of grain and other commodities.

He said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt Honourable Ms. Nelly B K Mutti, MP on Monday 14th November, 2022 at Parliament Buildings.

Ambassador Fransciso said there is need to deepen the cross-border trading between the two countries as this is a driver through which poverty eradication and economic transformation can be attained in order to better the lives for the people of the two countries. He added that when trade and economic relations are heightened, it would result in the expansion of the export market such as the trade of petroleum oil to Zambia at a cheaper price.

The Ambassador stated that parliamentarians have a crucial role to play in ensuring that regional integration and cooperation between the two governments is enhanced.  To this end, he encouraged parliamentarians from Zambia and Angola to engage in exchange visits and other bilateral activities. “May I also take this opportunity to invite you to the Democratic Republic of Angola for an exchange visit with our Speaker or vice versa so that best practices can be shared,” he said.

Speaker of the National Assembly, The Rt. Hon Ms. Nelly B K Mutti, MP echoed the importance of the exchange visits in enhancing cooperation, peace and economic relations between the two countries.

The Honourable Speaker indicated that Zambia has a lot of natural resources which it cannot exploit to its final products hence President Hakainde Hichilema’s emphasis on value addition. “For us to exploit oil, lets refine it, if we can grow maize or wheat, lets refine it to flour or maize meal so that our people can benefit from it” she said.