Zambia, Ghana elevate ties to comprehensive economic partnership

 Zambia and Ghana have elevated their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive economic partnership, aiming to deepen trade, investment and productive cooperation, according to a communique released on Friday.

   The communique followed bilateral talks between Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and his Ghanaian counterpart, John Dramani Mahama, who is on a three-day state visit to Zambia.

   According to the communique, the two leaders committed to enhancing private sector participation, facilitating the movement of goods and capital, and promoting joint ventures for value addition, industrial development and job creation.

   They identified priority areas of cooperation, including agriculture and food systems transformation, with a focus on agro-processing and value addition, energy cooperation, particularly renewable energy and power trade, trade and investment promotion, as well as financial technology and digital financial services.

   The communique noted that the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the successful conclusion of business transactions valued at seven million U.S. dollars between Zambian and Ghanaian fintech companies during a joint business forum.

   They also talked about ongoing business negotiations estimated at 65 million dollars, with the potential to generate about 8,000 jobs in both countries.

   The two presidents emphasized the importance of strengthening African-led partnerships amid uncertainty in the global environment and persistent economic challenges facing developing countries. They called for expanding intra-African trade, mobilizing African capital and enhancing policy coordination.  Enditem