Zambia’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Lt. Gen. William Sikazwe has expressed the country’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties with Türkiye, describing the East Anatolia Economic Cooperation Forum as a strategic bridge connecting African economies with Türkiye’s dynamic regions.
Speaking during his presentation, Gen. Sikazwe said there are strong complementarities between Eastern Türkiye and Zambia in agriculture value addition, light industry, and infrastructure development and that Zambia is ready to provide institutional support, political will, and incentives to ensure businesses can thrive.
“Zambia is open for business, strategically positioned as a gate way to both regional and continental markets,” said Gen. Sikazwe in a statement issued to RCV News by Zambia High Commission in Ankara Secretary for Press and Public Relations Pamela Ng’andu.
He highlighted that Zambia is focused on building a diversified, export-driven, and private-sector-led economy anchored on the principles of transparency, predictability, and innovation.
Gen Sikazwe further outlined practical opportunities for collaboration between Zambia and Malatya, citing food security, where Zambia’s vast arable land and water resources could complement Malatya’s expertise in fruit processing, packaging, and cold chain logistics.
He also pointed to joint ventures in textiles and light industry, linking Zambian raw materials with Malatya’s industrial base to support job creation and export diversification among others.
The forum was organized by the International Investment and Business Confederation in partnership with the Malatya Chamber of Commerce, highlighting East Anatolia’s growing role as a hub for agriculture, industry, and logistics while positioning Türkiye as a gateway into Africa.
By Margaret Mwanza
