Zambia’s most celebrated think tank the Economics Association of Zambia started spring with a bang, announcing the theme for its 2020 National summit during a press brief at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka. Speaking during the brief, EAZ Chief Dr. Lubinda Haabazoka unveiled the theme for April 2020s summit as “The Sustainble Development Goals – SDG 2030, with 10 years to go where is Africa?”
The visibly ecstatic Economic Association Board is still hangovered from an inaugural summit that attracted close to a thousand delegates from 15 countries themed “The Future of Economic Diplomacy – Achieving Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth in Africa,” graced by Zambias Head of State Dr. Edgar Lungu alongside his Kenyan counterpart His Excellency Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta and Tanzania’s Former Head is State Dr. Jakaya Mrishwo Kikwete.
Dr. Haabazoka revealed that over K5million ($395,000) was expended over the two days in Livingstone bringing economic pulse to the tourist capital. Haabazoka forecast a greater turnout in next year which the Association hopes to see over 3,000 delegates to Davo’s standards in the next 3 years. He challenge the private sector to come to the party to own this summit wholly.
“We will have 17 separate sessions in next year’s summit to discuss each SDG and where Africa and Zambia are. We are set to invite some big names which we will announce at a later date,” he said. We have chosen April because we would like to also market the mighty Victoria Falls at a time when there is enough water, Dr. Haabazoka said.
Some of the key take aways of the summit include the following 10 pointers shared at the brief:
- High interest rates and liquidity challenges in banking sector hampering SME Finance.
- The need to rekindle talks with the IMF but in a strategic fashion.
- The need for energy diversification, de-risking models that will aid energy finance in Zambia.
- The need for alternative finance methods to fund infrastructure development in Zambia.
- Strategic partnership between diaspora farmers and the locals that have lots of untapped arable land as a strategic way of capitalizing the agriculture sector.
- The need to support local entities involved in value addition to grow.
- The need to align vision 2030 realistically to the electric car and technology era.
- The need for aviation costs to ease and harnessing airline opportunities to revamp the horticultural industry.
- The need for human capital development and sustainable partnerships with tertiary education institutions.
- The need to boost manufacturing capability to position Zambia for intra Africa trade.
Other jurisdictions that run summits in the period include Namibia that is targeting to raise over a billion dollars in investments.
