HIGH COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA IN OTTAWA ORGANIZES THE FIRST EVER ZAMBIA CANADA TRADE MISSION 11th TO 22nd AUGUST 2010
The Zambia High Commission, in Ottawa, Canada in conjunction with the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada has organized a Trade Mission to Zambia. The Zambia-Canada Trade Mission will take place in Zambia from 11th to 22nd August 2010 and the High Commissioner, Dr. Nevers S. Mumba, will take Canadian team to Zambia to show case the abundant business opportunities that exist in Zambia.
A team of business leaders and mayors (15 to 20) drawn from the many companies and institutions of the Canadian economy has been mobilized.
The Canadian team will address a variety of issues ranging from national and regional economic development, university and college training, tourism and health care in Zambia.
The overriding purpose is to identify opportunities for Canada-Zambia collaborations and projects of mutual benefit and interest, especially in developing public sector capacity.
The team is eager to encourage enhanced trade, cultural and political connections with Zambia.
The team would prepare a Zambia–Canada strategy document at the end of the trip in consultation with the Zambia team that will be circulated to the Canadian business houses with a view of attracting more Canadian firms for the next Trade Mission that will be held probably in 2011. ZAMBIA FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER’S VISIT TO CANADA
The Government of Canada through the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade invited Minister of Foreign Affairs Zambia Hon. Kabinga J. Pande for an official visit to Canada.
The Hon. Minister held bilateral talks with his Canadian counterpart Hon. Lawrence Cannon. His Schedule comprised of meetings with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Canadian Council on Africa, African Diplomatic Group, Department of Foreign Affairs Officials (DFAIT), Caribbean Group and many other Investment and Industrial Companies and Groups.
Hon. Minister Mr. Pande was in Canada from 9th May to 13th May, 2010. His delegation comprised of Government officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Commerce and Trade, and Mining.
The visit was the first of its kind of the Senior Zambia Government Official to the Mission. The High Commission believes the visit will further strengthen the already existing warm relations and will open more doors for bilateral agreements between the two countries.
The Minister also inaugurated the Zambia High Commission since it re-opened in 2005.
Released by the High Commission of the Republic of Zambia
Ottawa, Ontario
14th June 2010.
ZAMBIAˊS MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS VISITS CANADA OTTAWA,ONTARIO
Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Kabinga J. Pande, M.P. will visit Canada from the 9th to the 13th of May 2010, at the invitation of the Canadian government.
This is the first time that an official at high government level from Zambia has been accorded an official visit. This demonstrates the stronger bilateral ties that have developed between Zambia and Canada over the past few years.
The delegation of the Minister will comprise senior government officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Commerce and Mining.
During the visit, the Minister will hold bilateral talks with his Canadian counterpart, Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Their meeting will be followed by a Luncheon held in honour of the visiting Minister.
The two Ministers are expected to discuss matters relating to economic and political co-operation between the two countries. Canada is one of Zambia’s major investors in the mining sector through Lumwana Mine in Solwezi managed by Equinox Minerals Ltd of Toronto and Australia. The meeting is meant to further strengthen the bilateral ties, between the two countries that have existed since 1966.
The Minister will hold business meetings with the President of Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Canadian Council for Africa (CCAfrica) organisations charged with investment programmes in Zambia. The Minister will be hosted at a special Luncheon by African and Caribbean Heads of Missions. He will also address Zambians in the Diaspora at a special reception.
On May 12th 2010, the Minister accompanied by Zambia’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dr. Nevers Mumba, will travel to Toronto where the Minister shall hold business meetings with Chief Executives from Equinox Minerals Ltd and Prospectus and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), before leaving for Zambia on May 13th, 2010.
Released by the Zambia High Commission
Ottawa, ON, Canada
May 3rd, 2010
Contact number: 613-232-4400
Email:zhc.ottawa@bellnet.ca
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12:00 P.M. EST, 27th 2010
HIGH COMMISSIONER TO CANADA ANNOUNCES ZAMBIA – CANADA INITIATIVES
Click image to see slideshow
WATERLOO, ONTARIO, APRIL 27, 2010: The University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada will facilitate the construction of the first auto-disable safety syringe factory in Zambia at a cost of US$12.2 million over a period of 3 years. The initiative is the result of negotiations spanning several months that culminated in the announcement of an agreement by Zambia’s High Commissioner to Canada Dr. Nevers Mumba on the occasion of his visit to the University of Waterloo main campus and in the City Hall on nearby Stratford, site of the University’s new global business campus, Dr. Mumba addressed gatherings of university faculty and staff, local dignitaries, including the Mayor of Stratford and the Mayor of Waterloo, and area business leaders.
This initiative is part of an active effort by the High Commissioner to promote Canada- Zambia relations and was warmly received by all stakeholders. Dr. Ken Coates, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and the host of both public sessions, thanked Dr. Mumba for his gracious commitment to be open and mutually beneficial partnership with Canada.
The High Commissioner outlined a series of initiatives currently under development, all of which fit into a larger strategy of collaboration, problem-solving, cultural and intellectual exchange and shared commitment to economic and social development. The cooperation announced between the University of Waterloo and the Republic of Zambia was described by Dr. Mumba as “the cornerstone of a new partnership between North America and Africa and an exciting commitment to international collaboration based on mutual respect and understanding.”
ZAMBIA-CANADA INITIATIVES
Building on months of planning and discussions, Dr. Mumba announced the process is underway to finalizing a Memorandum of Agreement between the University of Waterloo and the top public universities in Zambia to facilitate student and faculty exchanges, collaborative research projects and shared development and delivery of educational material. Discussions included expanding the collaboration with the University of Waterloo and Zambia to encourage partnership activities in such diverse areas as technological innovation, digital media, public health, economic development, Canada- Zambia trade relations and the training of public servants. Dr. Coates said of these initiatives: “The willingness of the Government of Zambia to seek partnerships with the University of Waterloo and with Canada is welcomed most strongly. We have so much to learn about Zambia and Africa; we have so much to learn from Zambians.”
Zambia has been a leading African nation in responding to the scourge of HIV/AIDS. Efforts to improve conditions further have been hampered by the absence of basic supplies, including disposable safety syringed. This factory will produce more that 70 million safety syringes per year, enough to meet all of Zambia’s needs and those of several neighboring countries. This initiative represents a commitment to job creation, capacity building and provides the Zambian people with an affordable, self-sustaining, government owned manufacturing facility to meet the health of the people of Zambia. This project, Dr. Mumba declared with evident emotion, “will save tens of thousands of Zambian and African lives. There is no better outcome imaginable from this partnership.
The High Commissioner Dr. Mumba ended both public meetings by announcing the first Zambia-Canada Trade Mission, scheduled for August 2010. Dr. Mumba, in collaboration with the University of Waterloo, will lead the trade mission of Canadian industry leaders in strategic sectors and key Canadian decision makers – including academic and political leaders, entrepreneurs and potential investors – to explore mutually beneficial opportunities.
Dr. Coates described the meetings as representing a “remarkable beginning to friendship, partnership and collaboration that will reach across oceans, bridge cultural differences, and create remarkable opportunities for Canadians and Zambians alike.” Dr. Mumba, High Commissioner, for Zambia, agreed wholeheartedly: “Our country wants and needs partners who want to work with us in an atmosphere of shared interest and mutual respect. We have found just such partners in the Waterloo-Stratford Region and at the University of Waterloo” as the launch pad for all key Canadian initiatives. Dr. Coates and Dr. Mumba both indicated that formal announcements would be followed shortly on the MOUs, the syringe factory and the broader collaboration that was launched in Waterloo and Stratford. The High Commissioner Dr. Never Mumba was accompanied the First Secretary for Education Mrs. Helen Mwiyakui.
-END-
Contact: Dr. Ken Coats, Faculty of Arts, University of Waterloo
Phone: (519) 888-4567, ext. 32217
Or Dr. Nevers S. Mumba, Zambia High Commission, Ottawa, Canada
Note: The Embassy will be closed on the above Zambian and Canadian Public holidays.
Other important days and festivals:
During N'CWALA festival, held on 24th February, the Paramount Chief of the Ngoni people of Eastern province commemorates the Ngoni's entrance into Zambia in 1835. Marked by feasts, music and some of the best dancing in the country, the ceremonies are held in Mutenguleni, 15 km (10 miles) south-west of Chipata.
During the KUOMBOKA Festival of the Lozi in the Western province, the Paramount Chief and his family paddle along canals from Lealui to their residence in Limulunga, where they wait out the rainy season. In early March, anglers set their poles for the Zambia National Fishing Competition held on Lake Tanganyika.
The Livingstone Cultural Festival takes place in May and at the end of July, UMUTOMOBOKO is celebrated by the Lunda people of Luapala Province.
In July, the LIKUMBI LYA MIZE is celebrated in North Western Province.
In September/October on the weekend of the full moon SHIMUNENGA, a ceremony of the Ba-Ita people is celebrated at Maala on the Kafue Flats in Southern Province.
The LWINDI Festival takes place in November in Southern Province.
