US Govt Commits to Assisting Zambia’s Copper Production for Economic Growth
The United States government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Zambia in its pursuit of expanding copper production to reach an annual target of 3 million tonnes. Helaina Matza, the US Deputy Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy, emphasized the need for intensified exploration efforts to achieve this ambitious goal during her recent visit to the country.
Matza expressed the importance of exploring additional power connections and conducting further exploration activities to bolster Zambia’s copper production capacity.
She acknowledged the promising signs observed during her visit to the North Western province, where she witnessed large-scale mining operations that instilled hope for the future.
Discussions with government authorities revealed ongoing reforms within the sector, which Matza eagerly anticipates seeing the results of.
She acknowledged the commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated by Zambia’s private sector across various industries, emphasizing their shared objective of fostering an investment-friendly climate and combating corruption deeply rooted within the system.
Matza recognized the significant progress made by the Zambian government, acknowledging the time required to establish robust legislation and policies that would facilitate smoother operations for all stakeholders involved.
She also highlighted the US government’s substantial investment of $250 million in the Lobito Corridor, a critical infrastructure project spanning Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This investment is set to significantly enhance regional trade and showcases the evolving foreign policy approach of the US government, aligning with global economic trends by prioritizing infrastructure development.
