The build up to the 2020 Manufacturers week was exhilarating, exciting and the Zambia Association of Manufacturers worked tirelessly to make the Week a success and the theme “Economic Recovery Through Innovation and Resilience” a reality.
The week was flagged off with a broadcast launch by the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Hon. Christopher B. Yaluma on Sunday 22nd November on ZNBC. He urged all Zambian citizens to actively participate in the Week’s activities. The Minister hit the head on the nail when he appealed to Zambian consumers, to “think local first” and buy Zambian products. “Only through your participation in actively purchasing local products will Zambia achieve its goals of industrialization and generate the intended spillovers that support sustainable employment creation and economic growth” the Minister said.
On Monday 23rd November, the Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry was with the Manufacturers again, at the Launch of the ZAM Secretariat and the signing of the MOU with ZABS. His unwavering support to the sector was pronounced in his speech where he made mention that the Government attaches a lot of importance to the manufacturing sector in Zambia. More importantly, the Minister recognized that achievement of the Vison 2030 targets requires the development of a resilient and innovative manufacturing sector. And pledged his support to the business community through a conducive business environment, Government policy and business development services. Manufacturers were urged by the Minister to ensure that their manufactured products were well-packaged and of high quality to increase the percent share of manufacturers in total merchandise exports to 71%.
On Tuesday, the ZAM President and his Secretariat entourage went to receive the consignment of sponsorship, donations, and goods from the Trade Kings Group. As the Top Sponsor in the Platinum category, the Trade Kings Group Director Mr. Lux Subramaniam said that ZAM had continued to be a great help in policy advocacy and was an all-weather partner to them and on this account they were happy to be the top sponsor giving sponsorship, donations and media support worth K150,000. Trade Kings Group was thanked by the ZAM President Mr. Ezekiel Sekele for their dedication to ensuring that the manufacturing sector in Zambia was growing. Their resilience and innovation was praised and they were urged to work with macro, small and medium enterprises to help them grow and learn from them. ZAM wishes to thank Trade Kings for their continued support to the Association.
The Buy Zambia Expo was launched by his Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu on Wednesday 25th November at the East Park Mall. In a speech read on his behalf by the Commerce Minister, the President reiterated that the Expo was important because it created a platform for exchange of innovative ideas between the local manufacturers, service providers and the consumers. The Head of State urged all Zambian companies, to subscribe to the Proudly Zambian Campaign which is currently run by ZAM but a brainchild of the Ministry of Commerce. Many Zambian manufacturers exhibited and showcased their products to the public at the Expo.
On Thursday, the Innovative Manufacturers Business Conference happened. The intellectual discussions were though provoking and mind boggling as it was revealed that out of a scale of 131 countries, Zambia was ranked 122 as the 9th least innovative country. Was this because Zambia was not innovative? No. It was more so because innovators in Zambia have not been registering their ideas, products, processes etc etc. And so, the Conference saw lessons around ideation, how to standardise and commercialise it and more importantly protect it from vices such as illicit trade. Manufacturers were also tipped on metrology regulations, business licensing on the web, competition laws and they had a heart to heart with ZESCO.
Friday was packed. The Give Back Event was be graced by Honourable Mwanakatwe at the Lusaka Prisons in the afternoon. Manufacturers showed that they were not all about profit but were also socially responsible corporate citizens. Through the Mother of Millions Foundation, infants and children currently imprisoned through circumstances beyond their control, were handed goods worth more than K150,000 to ease their stay in prison.
And, to crown it all, the Manufacturers Gala took place on Friday evening celebrating manufacturer’s that had made strides in innovation and had resiliently survived COVID-19 in 2020. In his speech, the ZAM President stated that “recognition in form of the Gala and Awards Ceremony was particularly important, when manufacturers experienced unprecedented change and growth challenges but were still led to think outside the box and survive the tough terrain. If anything, this is what was recognized as innovation and resilience.
ZAM vehemently thanks the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry for his unwavering support during the Week and colleagues from MCTI for making the Week a success. Additionally, the Week could not have been possible without the support of sponsors including Trade Kings Group – the Main Sponsor, ZAMEFA PLC – Gold Sponsor, and other sponsors including Zambian breweries PLC, Zambeef PLC, Strongpak Limited, Kachema Meat Supplies, Varun Beverages Limited, Stanbic Bank, Roland Imperial Tobacco Limited, Unified Chemicals Limited, Zambia Sugar PLC, 260 Brands, Java Foods Limited, Mongini’s Biscuits, Lafarge PLC and Yalelo Limited. ZAM thanks you profusely and is pleased to have you as its members.
