Japan Provides $1.2 Million to Increase Mining Capacity

To help advance the government’s ambition of stepping up Zambia’s mining capacity, the government of Japan has provided $1.2 million in grant aid. The money will go towards the procurement of laboratory equipment for the government’s Geological Survey Department, better placing it to determine suitable locations for mines, and make the mining process itself more efficient.

Responding to the grant, Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane expressed “the new equipment will not only improve the accuracy and efficiency of geological surveys, but will also attract further investment to Zambia’s mining sector. New investment in the mining sector will lead to more job creation and value addition support industries”.

Furthermore, increasing the capacity of the mining sector not only better places Zambia in the arena of international trade, but also significantly increases tax revenue, strengthening the government’s action against poverty.

The Japanese government, acting through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has a long track record of supporting Zambia’s sustainable mineral resources development, and is confident that its funding will increase mineral analysis capacity, strengthening Zambia’s economy and human capital, paving the way for deeper trade relations between the two countries. At a press conference unveiling the agreement, JICA Chief Representative Tateyama Jotaro said “this grant for the economic and social development programme is a subsequent assistance to go along with human resources development”

The government remains confident of reaching its target of producing of 3 million metric tonnes of copper a year by 2031, and Japan’s cooperation represents a significant step towards this goal.