A CHINESE state-owned construction firm has expressed interest to set up a factory in Zambia that will be manufacturing materials for building high-rise prefabricated apartments and low cost houses. This came to light when Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister Charles Milupi and his delegation paid a courtesy call on China-Jiangshu International president Song Qinbo at the firm’s headquarters in Nanjing, China, on last Thursday. In his remarks, Mr Milupi said the earmarked setting up of a prefabricated housing factory in Zambia by China-Jiangshu International will help reduce the current housing deficit of 1.5 million housing units. “The bond and the mutual cooperation between the two countries have grown significantly over time. This is evidenced through the support rendered by China, particularly in infrastructure development, which includes among them, the Tazara railways, the stadia, the Lusaka-Mongu road, the Levy Mwanawasa Hospital and recently the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport,’’ Mr Milupi said. Others are the Lusaka Specialised Hospital, Kalindawalo General Hospital in Petauke, about 1,600 housing units for the Ministry of Home Affairs, and another 2,000 housing units for the Ministry of Defence. “We look forward to your company participating more in the road and housing [sectors] under the public private partnership arrangement,’’ Mr Milupi said. He said Government was grateful for the technical and financial support towards the construction of the Kenneth Kaunda wing at Mulungushi International Conference by China-Jiangshu International Economic Technical Cooperation. “This indeed is a clear testimony of your company’s commitment to invest in Zambia and contribute to job creation and ultimately reduce poverty among our people,” Mr Milupi said. He appealed to the company to take part in unlocking the Nacala Corridor connecting Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the Indian Ocean, the recently launched Lobito Corridor connecting Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola through the Atlantic Ocean and the North-South Corridor connecting Zambia to Zimbabwe and Tanzania. “All these corridors when developed will ease the transportation of goods and services, including the anticipated three million tonnes of copper production in Zambia,” Mr Milupi said. He said while people were looking forward to the ground-breaking ceremony marking the start of this factory, the need for quality products would be stressed. Mr Milupi said the quality that China-Jiangshu International has exhibited on its construction projects in China should be replicated in Zambia. China-Jiangshu International Economic Technical Cooperation president Song Qinbo assured the Minister and his delegation, among them National Housing Authority (NHA) board chairperson Nalukui Milapo, that the firm will maintain the quality exhibited on various projects undertaken in Zambia so far. Mr Song said over the past 40 years of worldwide expansion, the company has established permanent offices in 42 countries and regions, primarily in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, Central and South America, and Oceania. “Zambia’s growth and its achievements are indebted to the assistance and support received from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development of the Republic of Zambia,” he said.
Source: Zambia Daily Mail Limited
