Zambia’s President, Hakainde Hichilema, recently announced a significant milestone in the country’s technological advancement. During his visit to Shenzhen, he engaged with ZTE, a renowned global ICT solutions provider, where he inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a smartphone assembly plant within Zambia’s borders.
Our last engagement in Shenzhen was at ZTE, a leading global ICT solutions provider. Signed an MOU to set up a smartphone assembly plant in Zambia. This game changer will bring many jobs, as we increase digital solutions to citizens through our e-govt division.
Hakainde Hichilema, Zambia’s President
This strategic move is poised to be a game-changer for Zambia, offering a multifaceted impact. Firstly, establishing the smartphone assembly plant is expected to generate numerous job opportunities, addressing a critical aspect of employment in the country.
Additionally, it aligns with Zambia’s commitment to enhancing digital solutions for its citizens through the E-government Division. By bringing smartphone manufacturing capabilities to Zambia, the nation aims to foster greater accessibility to mobile technology, potentially accelerating digital inclusion and economic growth.
President Hichilema’s proactive approach to fostering such partnerships reflects the government’s dedication to modernizing and uplifting the nation’s technological landscape. In Zambia, Chinese ambassador Du Xiaohui said the two countries were writing a new chapter in their ‘all-weather’ ties.
“The two heads of state jointly drew up a new blueprint for the development of China-Zambia relations, which will have a lasting and far-reaching impact on bilateral relations,” the envoy stated.
Zambia was the first country in Southern Africa to establish diplomatic relations with China, in 1964. China-Zambia bilateral trade volume reached a new high of $6.73 billion in 2022, a 30% rise year on year. “China-Zambia relations stand at a new starting point,” Xiaohui said
