Russia has since written off $23bn debt owed to it by some African countries and has offered tons of free grain to deserving countries.
Lusaka, July 30 – Hon. Stanley K. Kakubo, the Foreign Affairs Minister says Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema, will undertake a State Visit to the State of Israel from 31st July to 2nd August 2023, at the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel.
There is no other President in the world who has made as many foreign trips in less than two years in office as President Hichilema has. His Minister of Finance had to go to Parliament to get authority for increased expenditure for State and Presidential Affairs.
An additional amount of K344,178,779 was needed to be approved, in addition to what was originally approved under the budget. That is about US $19m. For the year 2023, Public Affairs and Summit meetings have been allocated K322m (about US $17m).
President Hichilema shockingly avoided a trip to the Africa – Russia Summit what many Zambians believe would have been more beneficial than most the trips he has made so far. Russia has since written off $23bn debt owed to it by some African countries and has offered tons of free grain to deserving countries that participated in the summit.
Also Read: Hichilema, a western puppet, fails to attend Russia – Africa Summit.
Hon. Stanley K. Kakubo, however, insists that President Hichilema’s visit not only marks a significant milestone towards strengthening the bilateral cooperation between Zambia and Israel, it also serves to reinforce the enduring alliance grounded in shared values and mutual aspirations for prosperity between the two nations.
During the visit, President Hichilema is expected to engage in crucial talks with His Excellency President Herzog and His Excellency Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, as well as other high-ranking officials.
The discussions will delve into critical bilateral and regional issues, prioritising peace, security, and peace-building initiatives. A key highlight of the visit will be the signing of the Zambia–Israel General Framework Agreement of Cooperation, jointly presided over by President Hichilema and President Herzog. This broad-based agreement is designed to pave the way for a multifaceted collaboration between the two countries.
Beyond the official engagements, President Hichilema will also open the Zambia–Israel Business Forum under the theme: “Agro-Business Opportunities to Guarantee Food Security”.
Hon. Kakubo further states that President Hichilema’s visit offers a platform to reinforce the strong and growing ties between Zambia and Israel, while exploring fresh avenues for further partnership in areas such as trade, technology, renewable energy, desert agriculture techniques, healthcare, and education.
Also Read: This is a wrong time to align Zambia with the US with a changing geopolitical landscape.
The visit, Hon. Kakubo states, aligns seamlessly with the President’s sweeping Economic Transformation Agenda by providing a vital opportunity to foster valuable partnerships with the dynamic business landscape of Israel, unlocking lucrative investment possibilities. Notably, Israel’s unparalleled expertise in innovation and technology opens the doors to a world of mutually beneficial possibilities.
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