MINISTER of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane has disclosed that International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva is tomorrow expected in country.
He said Ms Georgieva will visit the country from Sunday 22 to Tuesday January 24, this year.
Dr Musokotwane said Ms Georgieva’s visit will be anchored on information exchange on the progress being made under Zambia’s IMF
supported extended credit facility, the debt restructuring process under the IMF/G-20 Common Framework, and how the IMF could support the country’s economic transformation agenda to build a more resilient and inclusive future for all citizens in all regions of the country.
He said during the visit, Ms Georgieva will meet President Hakainde Hichilema.
“The Governor of the Bank of Zambia and I will also have consultative meetings with Ms Georgieva and her delegation,” he said.
Dr Musokotwane said the IMF managing director will also engage other stakeholders such as representatives of the private sector, academia, students, civil society organizations and the media to appreciate their perspectives on Zambia’s current economic transformation agenda and the reforms that the Government is undertaking to attain macroeconomic stability, promote inclusive growth, create job opportunities for citizens, and ensure that social sector needs are financed in a sustained manner.
He said Ms Georgieva is a very high-ranking international personality and her visit to Zambia is very important to the country and should be welcomed by all.
“I take this opportunity to thank President Hichilema for giving me an opportunity to represent him at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which ran from Monday 20th January, 2023, and ended last night. My delegation and I leave Davos for home with a sence of satisfaction due to the quality of engagements we have had at the event and the encouraging responses that we obtained from prospective private sector investors especially in renewable energy and mining sectors. Once actualised, we are optimistic that jobs and growth will be boosted,” he said.
(Mwebantu, Saturday, 21st January, 2023)