NCHELENGE (The Business Telegraph): Zambia’s celebrated think tank the Economics Association of Zambia – EAZ officially launched its National Economic Summit – NES19 brainchild the Citizen Entrepreneur Development Programme – CEDP in conjunction with the Africa Green Resources – AGR. In a function graced by Republican President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu in the northern part of Zambia in Nchelenge district of Luapula neighboring the Democratic Republic of Congo – DRC.
The CEDP initiative is a private sector led initiative that will seek to empower 1.2million entrepreneurs over an ambitious period of 2 years in the copper producer, Zambia across the 10 provinces. The program targets key sectors namely agriculture, urban and small scale mining etc.
The Cobb-Douglas Productivity Equation Rethought.
The Economics Association of Zambia rethought the traditionally productivity model, the Cobb-Douglas that focuses on factors of production namely land, labor, capital, entrepreneurship and technology which the think-tank has targeted entrepreneurship and input capital provision to effect productivity and wealth creation more sustainably.
In his speech at the occasion, Republican President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu said:
“I am not an economist but over the years have learnt the simple productivity equation and that land, labor, entrepreneurship, capital and technology are key factors of production. As head of of state I nod the EAZ led Citizens Entrepreneurs Development program for rethinking the productivity model for the country from targeting employment traditionally to this time effecting entrepreneurship across the key sectors ranging from agriculture to urban with the long term intent to promoting sustainability. Today, I witness operationalization of the factors of production, all this to effect economic growth.”
In an earlier side interview with state television EAZ Head Dr. Lubinda Haabazoka said the CEDP will be providing inputs as seed capital to identified co-operatives in form of fingerlings, cattle, goats and poultry in addition to equipment used for processing of agriculture production is a value addition process.
The economic think tank bestowed on his royal highness the Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people honorary patron of the Economics Association of Zambia Luapula chapter while the provincial minister Honorable Nickson Chilangwa was bestowed Honorary chairperson of the think tank chapter in the province.
But for COVID19 the think-tank was scheduled to have its second summit in July this year themed Sustainable Development Goals 2030, 10-years ago, Where is Africa now, however this did not derail effecting of initiatives that would impact lives at grassroots level.
The CEDP initiative is expected to be rolled out to all the 10 provinces of Zambia.
The Kwacha Arbitraguer