TRYNESS TEMBO, Lusaka
PLANS are underway to build a green city in North-Western Province which will help to open up the area for trade with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola.
Bridge Consortium, a Zambian firm, is spearheading the project.
The green city will comprise residential and commercial plots, farm blocks, and industrial and tourism infrastructure.
Bridge Consortium estimates to spend about US$440 million on servicing the area.
Company chief executive officer Peter Cottan said in an interview last week that the firm has been prompted to invest in an industrial city in North-Western Province because of its untapped potential in terms of accessing the Angolan and DRC markets.
“The province has massive potential that has been choked for the past few decades, partly because of inaccessibility to Angola and the DRC caused by lack of infrastructure development. As a company we aim to help unlock this potential,” he said.
The project will open up North-Western Province to the Angolan and DRC markets.
“It took a combined team of efforts for us to come up with a detailed plan on how to establish the city and have open access to the neighbouring countries,” he said.
Mr Cottan said the implementation of the project will also help decongest Kasumbalesa border.
He said the firm has already engaged a consultant to undertake an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report which will be submitted to Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) for approval to enable the project to take off.
In a separate interview, company chairperson Gai’us King said the project will help to promote regional integration and position Zambia as an important regional industrial hub.
Mr King, who is also the founder of the company, said the economic spiral effects are massive.
He said the company is currently engaging potential equity partners locally and internationally who can invest in the project.
“We are also taking advantage of the current economic atmosphere and renewed investor confidence by going an extra mile advertising the endless opportunities that are available in our beautiful country.
He said President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent visit to Angola has pushed them to accelerate their efforts to link Zambia to the Walvis Bay corridor, which is of paramount importance to Zambia and the region.
Mr King also said the company is working very closely with the governments of Zambia, DRC and Angola to ensure the project is successful.