Zambia Govt keen on investments from India

BANGALORE, INDIA: Picture this. The world is running after innovation and technology while many children in Zambia, landlocked country, have still not seen computers.

Most children drop out after the age of 7 despite the existence of both government and private schools in Zambia. Nevertheless, the country seems to witness a drastic change in the next few years gone by the efforts of the government of Republic of Zambia to woo investments from Asia particularly India. Zambia expects India to give the latter a major push in IT.

This was evident during the deliberation of a nine-member delegation headed by Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, economic advisor to the President of Zambia, and Keli Walubita, High Commissioner of Zambia, to India particularly Mumbai, Mysore and Bangalore.

As India has a reputation in the IT sector at the global level, Zambia government is looking to it to increase skills training and job opportunities. "There is great need for computers in Zambia. The English speaking nation is seriously focusing on transforming itself into a regional centre of excellence," Malaysia-based JJ International Consultants CEO Dato' J Jegathesan, one of the delegates, said.

According to statistics given by Dato' J Jegathesan, a mere 15.7 pc of children, who enter grade one complete grade 12 while 84.3 pc of children, who enter grade 1 don't complete grade 12. The entire tertiary education in Zambia can absorb only 3 percent of 18-25 years age group, which is one of the lowest tertiary education to the population age group ratios in the world.

Realizing the importance of IT, Republic of Zambia has declared education priority sector. "The government has decided to attract giant investments from Asia particularly India. This will help increase skills training and create job opportunities. We don't have enough schools for children. We are hiring more teachers and learning materials. We don't have adequate facilities too. The government is also looking at attracting investments in tourism, agriculture and other areas," Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, economic advisor to the President of Zambia told CIOL.

Zambia government has completed optic fibre cabling covering 1, 000 kms to increase broadband connectivity. The entire nation will have optic fibre cabling network by the end of fiscal quarter.

The delegation, which visited the IT capital on Tuesday to explore possibilities of attracting investments to Zambia, has seen signs of investments from Mysore. This was evident when the Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane and High Commissioner Keli Walubita invited Raman International Institute of Information Technology (RiiiT)- India's first IT finishing school supported by Karnataka Government, to set up Information Communication Centre (ICT) centre in Zambia.

RiiiT has agreed to implement a pilot project in one of the schools and later expand it to other schools. "By setting up ICT centre, RiiiT will be servicing not only Zambia also its 21-member states and the country has a huge market since it is politically stable," the High Commissioner pointed out.

Why India? Many Developed Nations have for years been pouring Development Funds into Zambia through outright grants and low interest loans. Despite Billions of dollars being poured into Africa, there is yet no Economic Success Story unlike the series of Economic Miracles among the Asian Nations.

In view of this the Government of Japan, more than a decade ago, decided that, following the Asian Model, the Private Sector must become the Engine of Growth in Africa and that Governments must not engage in Business, but should create the Economic Environment for Private Sector dynamism.

Thus was born the "Tokyo International Conference on African Development" (TICAD), which is a Summit of all African Heads of States and Sr. Economic Ministers. The TICAD agenda focuses on creating a South - South Economic Bridge between target dynamic South Nations of Asia (India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Pakistan etc) and selected African Nations.

The President of Zambia has appointed a TOH Steering Committee, which is chaired by the Economic Advisor to the President (Dr S Musokotwane) and is Co-chaired by the Resident Representative to JICA in Zambia and Mr Jack Kalala, another Advisor to the President.

Energy department director Oscar Sibote Kalumiana, Edqward M Muteto, first secretary (economic/trade), Florence Mumba, Acting Director, Investment Promotions and Privatisation, Jack N Kalala, Special Assistant to Zambia President (Policy Implementation and Monitoring), S Varadaraj, Director, Malaysia-based Prismatic Solutions, Eliko C Kalaba, Deputy Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives have accompanied Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane and Keli Walubita.