Mining key to Zambia’s poverty ills – Hautala

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Mining key to Zambia’s poverty ills – Hautala

 

Solwezi, May 23, 2013, ZANIS —  Finnish Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala says Zambia should utilize the potential it has in the mining industry to address challenges of poverty the country is facing.

 

And Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb described Kansanshi Mine investment in the country as a phenomenon which will improve the economy and create employment opportunities for the local people.

 

Ms. Hautala said the mining industry is doing well as there are positive signs to ensuring that the benefits from the industry are getting down to the local people.

 

ZANIS reports that  Ms Hautala said this in Solwezi yesterday after touring Kansanshi Mine.

 

She said the decision taken by government to join the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative ( EITI ) was an important step because it will ensure that the mines contribute funds towards reducing poverty among the people in form of taxes.

 

Ms Hautala said the Finnish government will continue rendering support to the Zambian government in various sectors of the economy especially that Zambia is showing strides of economically dependency from donor support.

 

And Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb described Kansanshi Mine investment in the country as a phenomenon which will improve the economy and create employment opportunities for the local people.

Mr. Stubb added that the Finnish business delegation that visited Kansanshi mine was impressed and will likely develop business interest that will continue strengthening ties between the two countries.

The two ministers led a delegation of 25 Finnish companies whose visit to Zambia provides opportunities for authorities and institutions to exchange views on topics of mutual interest and strengthen the already existing ties between Zambia and Finland.

And Northwestern province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu Zambia is a stable country politically and economically and urged those wishing to bring investment to the country to do so freely.

 

Mr. Mubukwanu explained that government has taken a bold decision to remove subsidies on fuel and maize as a measure to ensure that it provides services to the poor people living in areas where there are no social amenities such as roads and schools.  

 

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