Chikwanda chairs Africa Group 1 meeting in Washington

—–The Minister of Finance, Alexander Chikwanda, has began a series of meetings at the on-going 2013 IMF/World Bank Spring meetings and chaired the first session of the Africa Group 1 Constituency DC representative meeting.

The Africa Group 1 constituency comprises AfricaN countries from sub-Sahara Africa whose objective is to map out the developmental agenda plan for member countries that is subsequently submitted to the World Bank for consideration for assistance.

Mr Chikwanda is leading the ZambiaN delegation to the 2013 IMF/World Bank Spring meetings.

During the meeting, the Finance Minister is expected to hold talks with the World Bank African Region Vice President, attend several ministerial roundtable discussions and meet with senior Executives of the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC).

The Zambian delegation includes Secretary to the Treasury, Fredson Yamba, Permanent Secretary, Felix Nkulukusa, Bank of Zambia Governor, Michael Gondgwe and other Ministry of Finance and Bank of Zambia officials.

Earlier, Mr Chikwanda and the delegation paid a courtesy call on the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC where he was met by Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States Palan Mulonda.

The minister called for increased productivity amongst Zambians, adding that everyone had a task to contribute to the development of the country.

Mr Chikwanda also took time to explain the revision of the revised BOZ Act that will facilitate increased monitoring of the economy particularly with regards to the export earnings.

The minister said the new feature on the revised BOZ Act will provide export controls that will enable Zambia earn increased revenue.

The Finance Minister stressed the need to maximize the enabling business environment in Zambia, adding that it was one of the few countries in the region without export controls.

This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS by First Secretary for
Press at the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC, Patricia Littiya.