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The Egyptian government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing all Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) signed with Zambia in February this year during President Hakainde Hichilema’s state visit to that country.
The agreements signed are in agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, energy, livestock and fisheries, as well as health through pharmaceutical supplies aimed at strengthening economic ties and fostering collaboration in various sectors, with a strong focus on urban redevelopment and infrastructure development in Zambia.
Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia, Mayada Essam, made the assurance during a courtesy call on Lusaka Province Minister, Sheal Mulyata, in Lusaka Thursday.
Essam said in this regard, a technical team from Arab contractors to discuss potential partnerships and further collaboration on key infrastructure projects would be in Zambia next week to accelerate progress on the agreements signed.
“Arab Contractors are expected to undertake about 10 projects in Zambia.
The signed MoUs encompass a range of transformative projects, including the construction of roads, bridges, and urban redevelopment initiatives aimed at improving connectivity and economic integration,” she said.
On transport Infrastructure: agreements included the construction of key road networks such as the Watopa Bridge, Zambezi East–Zambezi West Bridge, and the Mutanda–Mwinilunga–Ikelenge Road.
Border and Regional Connectivity, include Development of the Mpika–Kasama–Mpulungu–Mbala Road, along with critical bridges such as the Safwa, Luangwa, Bemba, and Manshya bridges.
Essam stated that the initiative also includes border infrastructure at Zombe/Kaseshya (Tanzania) and Tapo Sikongo (Angola).
“It is important to accelerate the economic relations as it is the aspiration of President Hakainde Hichilema. We are accelerating the momentum to actualize them,” She said.
Essam also proposed that Lusaka and Cairo begin a city twinning programme to share progressive exchanges to enhance both cities which the Lusaka Province Minister responded to in the positive.
The Egyptian Ambassador also commended Zambia for the progress being made in promoting female leaders to decision making positions.
“It is impressive that Zambia has a female vice President, Speaker of the National Assembly, Justice Minister, Lusaka Province Minister and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretary General among others,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mulyata extoled the progress being made in various fields of cooperation between Zambia and Egypt as this will result into enhanced trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
“Egypt remains Zambia’s valuable partner on the continent and you are doing well in water security through construction of dams and irrigation farming which we are willing to enhance here in Zambia and Lusaka Province in particular. We have many investment opportunities in the six districts of the Province,” she said.
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