President HH Concludes Successful Egypt Visit

President Hichilema will return to Zambia this evening after concluding a successful official visit to Egpyt to strengthen cooperation between the two nations. The President ended the trip by signing several Memorandums of Understanding focused on trade, investment, and development cooperation and touring the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Yesterday afternoon, at the Egypt—Zambia Business Forum in Cairo, Hichilema called for enhanced trade among African countries. The president highlighted Zambia’s stable political climate, strategic location, and abundant natural resources and encouraged Egyptian businesses to explore investment opportunities in manufacturing, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.

To facilitate a smoother investment process, Hichilema also told the Forum that the administration is working to unlock rigidities and curb bureaucracy to boost investments in the country.

“We directed the various government agencies in both countries to speed up the implementation of the signed MoUs by removing bureaucracy so that Zambian citizens, particularly the young people, can have jobs and other opportunities,” said the President in a Facebook post on Monday, 22 February.

Another key engagement yesterday afternoon was a tour of Egypt's Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute in Cairo. Established in 1903, this institute conducts research to improve and innovate veterinary vaccines, sera, and diagnostic reagents.

President Hichilema explained, “As a country,  we seek to eradicate livestock diseases so we can target export markets for our farmers, and this institute is key to achieving this goal,” adding that he looked forward “to partnership with our local institutions in this category.”

Zambia's Ambassador to Egypt, Topply Lubaya, praised Egypt's conducive environment for investment and commerce. Trade and Industry Minister Chipoka Mulenga said the government wants Egypt to consider reintroducing a direct flight to Zambia.