PRESIDENT Michael Sata has urged the Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) board, management and exhibitors to work extra hard to improve the infrastructure in the Trade Fair grounds.
In a speech read for him by Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Emmanuel Chenda during the official opening of the 49th ZITF in Ndola yesterday, Mr Sata called on the stakeholders to redouble their efforts in improving the infrastructure.
Mr Sata said the Trade Fair should also be an important platform for creating opportunities to facilitate trade and investment.
"I call upon the board, management and exhibitors to redouble efforts in redeveloping the infrastructure and showcasing latest innovations in products and services," the President said.
He pledged the Government's commitment to creating an enabling environment and strengthening global partnerships in areas of finance, investment, trade and technology.
Mr Sata said this year's theme, 'Value addition through global partnership', required concerted efforts so that the country's economy could fully be integrated into the global economy.
"The global economy is central to my Government's policy of driving growth and poverty reduction as well as diversifying the economy as much as possible away from supplying natural resources," he said.
He said the Government's desire was to promote high levels of investment in value-addition which would trigger increased levels of trade in goods and services.
This, he added, would also create a variety of other linkages with the domestic economy such as technology transfer, human capital formation, creation of new industries and greater integration into the global economy.
The President challenged the youth in the country to become innovative in business and contribute to the development of the economy.
He also praised the national enterprises that were setting up businesses outside the country with production of quality products.
Mr Sata further urged the micro, small and medium-scale enterprises to continue using their passion to grow their businesses.