Minister of Green Economy and Environment Mike Mposha has called for close collaboration between Zambia and Italy in sustainable forest management, recycling of waste, capacity building of officers, climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Mr. Mposha was speaking when Italian Ambassador to Zambia and Malawi Enrio de Agostini paid a courtesy call on him at his office.
The Minister appealed to Italy for support towards protection of forests.
“The Ministry’s potential areas for collaboration with Italy to use technology for inventories and data collection,” said Mr. Mposha in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today by Ministry of Green Economy and Environment communications unit.
The Minister and Ambassador agreed on the need to quicken the signing of the extension of the Memorandum of Understanding MoU between Zambia and Italy on Climate Change.
And Ambassador Agostini expressed optimism that Zambia’s economy will significantly grow in the next decade in light of the opening up of the Lobito Corridor.
He therefore said there is need to ensure that the development of the Lobito Corridor project does not negatively affect the environment.
“Italy, as president of G7, we have just announced an investment of US$320 million for the development of Lobito Corridor project,” Ambassador Agostini said.
He also expressed Italy’s willingness to collaborate with the Ministry in forest protection, building capacity of forest guards and in waste management and recycling.
By Angel Kasabo
