from ARNOLD MULENGA in Lusaka, Zambia
Zambia Bureau
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – ZAMBIA is closing in on a partnership with some Chinese firms in the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing industry .
This would culminate in the establishment of an EV assembly plant in the Southern African country.
The visit is said to signal growing momentum for Zambia’s ambitions to establish itself as a hub for EV production in Africa.
Ivan Zyuulu, Zambia’s Ambassador to China, on Monday undertook tours of automobile companies in Jiangsu and Jiangxi provinces to explore possibilities of cooperation.
The envoy visited Wuxi Launch Design in Wuxi City, Jiangsu and Jiangxi Longsheng Automobile Company in Jingdezhen City, Jiangxi, where was received by senior executives.
Both are subsidiaries of Launch Design, which is believed to be interested in establishing the EV facility in Zambia. The company reportedly is to send a delegation to Zambia, at a date not disclosed.
“Zambia is looking forward to establishing cooperation with Launch Design for the purpose of establishing an electric vehicle assembly plant in Zambia,” he said.
This is through a note sent by the embassy, which confirmed a meeting with James Wu, General Manager of Wuxi Launch Design and Xiaobing Yu, Chairman of Jiangxi Longsheng.
Zulu stated that efforts would be made to ensure that Launch Design found a local partner in Zambia and set up operations.
“This is in line with Zambia’s industrialisation and diversification agenda as espoused in the country’s Eight National Development Plan,” he said.
According to the parent company, besides electric cars, it also had electric motorcycles and bicycles, which were suitable for the Zambian market.
Launch Design stated that its cooperation encompasses training programmes for local staff for management of processes.
– CAJ News