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 Zambia Seeks Dangote’s Assistance in Developing Fertiliser Industry

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 Zambia Seeks Dangote’s Assistance in Developing Fertiliser Industry
L-R, Dangote Cement Zambia, CEO, Vipul Agrawal, Dangote Cement Zambia, Director, Lynda Mataka, President/CE of Dangote Industries limited, Aliko Dangote, Zambia Minister of Commerce, Trade & Trade: Chipoka Mulenga, Zambia High Commissioner to Nigeria, Oscar Shitima, During the Zambia Minister Visit the President/CE of Dangote Industries Limited, in his Residence, Victoria Island Lagos, on Saturday 20, August 2022

 Zambia Seeks Dangote’s Assistance in Developing Fertiliser Industry

 

The Zambian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Chipoka Mulenga,

has sought the assistance of the President, Dangote Group, Aliko

Dangote in the development of his country’s agricultural sector.

Chipoka Mulenga, who led a delegation from Zambia on tour of the 3.00

million metric tonnes Dangote Fertiliser plant at the weekend, called

for a collaboration between Dangote Group and the Zambian government

in the establishment of fertiliser plant in the southern African

country.

Mulenga expressed belief that any investment in fertiliser production

will not only help the country to be self-sufficient in food

production, it will also help grow the Zambian economy as well as that

of the neigbouring countries.

According him, the Zambian government has created an enabling

environment for local and foreign investment through great incentives

to attract investment in all sectors of the economy.

“The Zambian government in the last budget made some pronouncements

which focus on value addition, industrialisation, skill enhancement

and development. We have a huge youthful population who are ready to

work if given the opportunity to be productive,” he said.

He described Zambia as Africa’s new investment destination because

of its stable political system, stable macroeconomic environment and

investment protection guarantees.

He said that Zambia is strong in agriculture and even seeking to

become stronger through having its own Fertiliser plant. “Rather than

continue to import Fertiliser from anywhere, we want Aliko Dangote to

come and establish plant in Zambia. The country’s fertiliser

consumption has increased tremendously in the last few years and has

continued to increase. I am happy that we no longer have to go outside

of Africa to seek investors. Dangote has been able to change the

narratives through his investment in cement production across Africa.

We now have Africans investing in the Africa continent. Dangote has

already established the biggest cement plant in Zambia. Dangote Cement

Zambia has a remarkable portfolio and is bringing positive change to

the cement industry, not only in Zambia, but also to other neigbouring

countries,” he added.

Mulenga commended the President/CE of Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote

for investing massively in fertiliser production in Nigeria. ”This

could only happen because the company put the right people, right

leadership, right technical skills and the right management in place

to have such a remarkable result. This Fertiliser Plant is not only

serving the needs of Nigeria, but also attracting foreign exchange

into the continent. This is a good demonstration that we can have this

kind of investment in any part of Africa, which can grow and be

beneficial to other countries.”

He therefore enjoined Nigerians to guard Dangote investments and other

local investments in Nigeria. “Let all Nigerians support this

investment to grow from strength to strength. This is amazing and we

will like to have a similar investment in Zambia.”

Speaking at the end of the tour, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote

Fertiliser Limited, Mr. Vishwajit Sinha said demand for Urea

fertiliser in the Nigerian market and beyond remains robust and is

expected to continue to grow.

He said the $2.5 billion fertiliser complex would make Nigeria

self-sufficient in fertiliser production with excess capacity exported

to other African countries and the rest of the world.

“The key focus of Dangote Fertiliser has always been to cater to the

growing fertiliser demand of the domestic market in Nigeria and also

to work towards bringing a green revolution in the country so as to

contribute towards food security for Nigeria. The surplus production

after supplying the domestic market is exported,” he added.

Sinha stated that Dangote Fertiliser is positioned to take advantage

of the Federal Government’s policy, which focuses on agriculture as

one of the keys to unlock the diversification of the Nigerian economy.

“As population is increasing, food consumption is changing. Many

countries’ economic progress is linked to agricultural development,

which is the best form of inclusive development. For all the countries

that I have been to, I can see the potential of agriculture in the

entire value chain from the farm to the kitchen in Nigeria.

“Dangote Fertiliser has the potential to transform the entire

African region. Definitely it will have a huge value on the

country,” he added.

Sinha described Dangote Fertiliser plant as a company which will not

only increase food-sufficiency in Nigeria, but also drastically reduce

the level of unemployment and youth restiveness in the country through

the generation of direct and indirect employment.

#Zambia Seeks Dangote’s Assistance in Developing Fertiliser Industry#

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