President Edgar Lungu has appealed to the private sector to partner with government in order to finance infrastructure development in the country.
President Lungu said partnerships between government and the private sector can help create jobs and wealth, as well as cement national development.
The Head of State said this today when he commissioned the K1.2 billion state of the art Edgar Chagwa Lungu Business Park in Kitwe on the Copperbelt Province.
Construction of the Edgar Chagwa Lungu Mall was financed by The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and has been built within schedule and cost.
The business park consists of a hotel, conference facilities, shops, automotive centres, cinema and a gymnasium among other structures.
President Lungu who described the business park as a great investment and national asset, has said that, he feels greatly honoured that the facility has been named after him especially while he is still alive.
He said government will continue to create an enabling environment for local and foreign investments in the economy.
He said government will continue to transform the country through the 7NDP blue print.
And President Lungu has noted that government will continue to undertake business reforms in order to reduce the cost of doing business.
He said there is need to scale up production capacities and business linkages to support micro and small businesses in the country.
The Head of State has further urged NAPSA to offer small traders and businesses, trading places at the ECL Business Park to benefit from the development.
He said government will continue to encourage parastatals and the private sector to pool resources to invest in productive sectors of the economy.
President Lungu said he was happy that NAPSA has also played a role in financing the construction of the Chingola – Solwezi road.
And NAPSA Board Chairperson Marian Munyinda has assured President Lungu that the authority will put to good use member funds in its investment ventures.
Ms Munyinda disclosed that NAPSA has since grown its assets from K23 billion to K48 billion.