The UK Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham MP, will make a three day visit to Zambia from 7 – 9 November, 2011. The Minister’s visit will strengthen the broad bilateral relationship that exists between the United Kingdom and Zambia.
Mr Bellingham said:
“I am very much looking forward to my first visit to Zambia. This visit provides an opportunity to strengthen trade links between the UK and Zambia and highlight where we can work together in the future.
I congratulate Zambia on the peaceful transfer of power following recent elections. The transparent and peaceful manner in which they were conducted, and the exemplary way in which power was transferred, is a major success for democracy in Zambia and a model to others in the region and across Africa.
“Zambia has an important role to play in SADC, COMESA and the Southern Africa region and I will be discussing a range of important regional and international security issues and trade opportunities with members of the Government.”
And British High Commissioner, Tom Carter, said;
“This will be the first visit to Zambia by a Minister from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for several years. It offers the opportunity to bolster trade and investments links between the two countries, and highlight future investment opportunities for British businesses. It will also be the first British ministerial visit to Zambia since the change of government in September, and will enable us to forge a new and deeper relationship with the new government.”
During the visit, Mr Bellingham will meet President Michael Sata, Vice President Guy Scott, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry. The meetings will focus on how to strengthen trade and investment links between Zambia and the UK, regional and international security issues as well as identifying areas for further cooperation. He will also meet the British and Zambian business community. Mr Bellingham will also visit Zambia Sugar plc, a Sugar producer based in Mazabuka, Southern Province, and the UK’s biggest investment in Zambia.
President Sata is also hosting a large lunch for Mr Bellingham at State House, to which he has invited members of the British business and resident community in Zambia.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham MP
Mr Bellingham was appointed Minister for Africa on 14 May 2010. His Ministerial portfolio also includes the British Overseas Territories, conflict issues, counter piracy, the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, protocol issues and climate change.
He first entered parliament in 1983 and is a Member of Parliament for North West Norfolk in the UK.
He studied law at Magdalene College, Cambridge, UK. In 1978 he was called to the bar (Middle Temple) where he served as a Barrister for eight years.
Prior to his re-election in 2001, he ran his own consultancy practice specialising in advising companies on inward investment.
He is married with one son.
Zambia: UK assistance
The UK enjoys a strong trade, cultural and educational links with Zambia.
The British High Commission in Lusaka works closely with the government and people of Zambia for our mutual benefit, representing the UK and implementing UK foreign policy in Zambia and engaging with Zambia in areas of common interest, such as good governance and climate change. We also support the UK's Department for International Development in working to reduce poverty in Zambia and the British Council in its leadership and education activities.
Currently, the UK government, through DFID, is supporting the government of Zambia to deliver better services and make better investment decisions, tackling malaria and maternal mortality and increasing opportunities for rural wealth creation.
DFID will be spending an average of £59 million per year in Zambia until 2015.
Zambia Sugar is the UK’s largest investment in Zambia. It is owned by 125 km south west of Lusaka) where its main activities are the growing of sugarcane on an irrigated Estate of approximately 14,640 hectares, and the production and Illovo of South Africa, in which company Associated British Foods have a majority shareholding. Zambia’s largest sugar producer, it is located in Mazabuka (about marketing of sugar and downstream products. Zambia Sugar currently produce around 400,000 tonnes of sugar per year, of which nearly half is exported to Europe.
