Wed, 30 Aug 2017 09:43:03 +0000
By Annie Zulu
ZAMBIA is keen to learn from the Islamic Republic of Iran on how it has successfully exploited its oil and natural gas industry for the benefit of its people, President Edgar Lungu has said.
President Lungu also said Zambia admired the economic diversification programme pursued by Iran from over dependence on oil to other sectors such as agriculture.
The President said this when he received letters of credence from new Iranian Ambassador to Zambia Ahamad Erfanian and eight other ambassadors accredited to Zambia at State House yesterday.
“Zambia admires Iran’s significant economic progress and its position as one of the world’s largest holders of oil and gas reserves.
“We also admire Iran’s economic diversification programme to shift from dependence on oil to other sectors. Similarly, Zambia is pursuing economic diversification to shift reliance from mining to agriculture and other sectors including exploration for oil and natural gas,” President Lungu said.
And Mr Erfanian said Iran was ready to share its technological advances in agriculture and science.
“Iran is advanced in science technology and agriculture. Therefore, we will work closely with the Zambian government to see how best we can help in these areas,” Mr Erfanian said.
President Lungu received credentials from Brazilian Ambassador Colbet Soares Pinto, Waleed Hasan from the State of Palestine, Margaret Ekua Prah of Ghana and Jean Pierre Jmumum from Mauritius.
Others who presented their letters of credence are Bossom Assmoi Desire of Ivory Coast, Andre Nzapayeke of the Central African Republic, Michael Burrell of New Zealand and Kim Chang Ryop from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
And President Lungu told Mr Nzapayeke that deployment of Zambia’s troops to the United Nations mission in the Central African Republic was a demonstration of Zambia’s commitment to promoting a stable environment in the region.
On New Zealand, the President said Zambia recognised its attainment of economic milestones especially in the agriculture sector.
President Lungu also said the establishment of the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation between Zambia and Ghana would enhance close ties between the two countries in various fields.
Mr Lungu said Zambia attached importance to bilateral ties based on mutual respect and was looking forward to enhanced cooperation with other countries.
