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An agreement meant to enhance competitiveness and performance in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) has been signed in Lusaka between the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and Charter Cities Institute (CCI).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is meant to attract investments, create jobs and accelerate inclusive growth aimed at achieving sustained economic growth.
This would be done through devolved governance and partnerships with the private sector, according to a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday.
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ZDA Director General Albert Halwampa commended CCI for the initiative to transform SEZs in the country.
Halwampa indicated that there was need to modernise and build new cities in Zambia so that they can compete favourably with other cities in the sub-region.
He pledged the Agency’s support to Charter City Institute in building new cities using the concept of Special Economic Zones thereby making them more attractive to investors thereby creating more jobs.
“The signing of this MoU is evidence that the Agency is ready to work with CCI in actualising your dreams of building charter cities in Zambia,”Halwampa said.
The two institutions agreed to work together in re-imagining special economic zones as special economic cities with greater devolved authority to create their own governance system that addresses major barriers to growth and responds to evolving needs benchmarked on the charter city model.
The agreement is further provided for undertaking suitable reforms to create an enabling environment and putting in place systems and structures to reduce bureaucracy and improve doing business in MFEZs, industrial parks, farm blocks, and new city developments; and increase competitiveness, investments, and job creation.
In addition, the two institutions will collaborate in providing research and technical assistance on special economic zone laws and regulations to enable Zambia attract high- impact private investments into target jurisdictions competitively.
And CCI Executive Director Kurtis Lockhart said his organisation was eager to work with the government through ZDA to build new cities and work on guidelines that will increase the competitiveness and enhance the performance of the Special Economic Zones.
Lockhart further revealed that his organisation already has clearance to pilot a few charter cities around the country.
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