Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Chief Editor
Published on 2024-03-21 02:18:56
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Rodney Sikumba, recently expressed Zambia’s eagerness to enhance its development cooperation and trade relations with the Federal Republic of Germany. During a meeting in Berlin with his counterpart, Minister of Economy, Tourism, Agriculture, and Forestry of the German State of Saxon-Anhalt, Mr Sven Schulze, Hon. Sikumba emphasized Zambia’s dedication to fostering mutually beneficial cooperation through economic diplomacy.
Acknowledging the longstanding friendship between Zambia and Germany, Hon. Sikumba highlighted the shared values, mutual respect, and common aspirations that underpin the bilateral relations between the two countries. Despite changes in political leadership, the bond between Zambia and Germany has remained steadfast, and Zambia values the partnership at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
Hon. Sikumba noted the economic success of Saxon-Anhalt, particularly in areas such as investor service, location marketing, and tourism marketing. He recognized the state’s highly industrialized and diversified economy, which places emphasis on services such as tourism and innovation hubs. Hon. Sikumba expressed confidence that Zambia could benefit significantly from the advancements in these sectors and expressed Zambia’s readiness to collaborate with Saxon-Anhalt in the tourism industry.
Furthermore, Hon. Sikumba highlighted Germany’s focus on Africa as a trade partner and emphasized Zambia’s strategic positioning to strengthen economic and trade relations with Germany on the African continent. He praised Germany’s regional development cooperation initiatives, particularly in education, with a focus on Technical Education Vocational and Training (TEVET) crafts and trade institutions. Hon. Sikumba also commended Germany’s efforts in preserving historical artifacts and natural heritage sites, including museums, as well as its commitment to wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection.
The meeting between Hon. Sikumba and Mr Schulze took place on the sidelines of the ITB Berlin Trade Show, where discussions centered on expanding economic and trade ties in the tourism sector. Hon. Sikumba expressed Zambia’s interest in leveraging Saxon-Anhalt’s robust tourism network and digital competence to enhance Zambia’s tourism industry.
In conclusion, Hon. Sikumba’s meeting with Mr Schulze reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to fostering cooperation and understanding with Germany, particularly in the tourism sector. With a focus on economic diplomacy, Zambia aims to strengthen its ties with Saxon-Anhalt and Germany at large, with a view toward mutual benefit and shared prosperity.
This press release was issued by Lubinda Kashewe, First Secretary-Press in Berlin, Germany.
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