Government Directs Zambian diplomats to promote aspirations of the 7NDP

Tuesday, February 6, 2018.

Government has directed Missions abroad to re-align their operations in order to promote the aspirations of the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation, Chalwe Lombe says diplomats have an important role in helping the government achieve certain targets in the plan.

Ambassador Lombe says President Edgar Lungu has given clear guidelines on the direction of the country’s national development.

The Permanent Secretary said this today during a meeting with Diplomats at the Zambian Mission in Tokyo, Japan.
Ambassador Lombe said he expects Missions abroad such as the one in Tokyo to enhance cooperation and trade so that Japan is part of government’s agenda to enhance the well being of Zambians.

“We would like the Japanese to be part of government’s agenda. We have an agenda which is the 7NDP. So we are inviting cooperating partners, private sector and government to come on board and work with Zambia and explore the opportunities that exist,” He said.

Ambassador Lombe said Zambia and Japan have long standing relations; the mission in Japan must continue to engage the Japanese government in order to strengthen existing relations and explore new areas of cooperation.

He is optimistic that the 7NDP once implemented will yield great results as it caters across all sectors of the economy.
And Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan, H.E Ndiyoi Mutiti said the mission in Tokyo has continued to strengthen bilateral relations with Japan more especially to enhance economic interactions.

Ambassador Mutiti said the mission is committed to ensure that Zambia benefits from its relations with Japan in an effort to contribute to national development.
She said she will ensure that principles in the 7NDP are well sold to the Japanese government and private sector to increase their participation in Zambia’s development agenda.

During his 5 day visit to Japan, Ambassador Lombe is scheduled to hold talks with Japanese Foreign Affairs Vice Minister, government agencies and companies.