Friday 12th July, 2024
Belgrade – The Republic of Serbia has pledged its support to Zambia in mitigating the disaster the country is experiencing as a result of severe drought. President Alexander Vućić has assured that a delegation would soon be dispatched to Zambia to assess the drought situation and discuss with the Government how Serbia could assist in mitigating the disaster.
He said this in Belgrade after Zambia’s Ambassador to France Her Excellency Ms. Judith Mulenga presented her Letters of Credence to him, by which President Hakainde Hichilema accredited her to the Republic of Serbia on a non-residential basis as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Ambassador Mulenga briefed President Vućić on the current challenges faced by Zambia, such as the shortage of staple food and the energy crisis due to severe drought caused by El Nino.
During the ceremony, Mr. Vućić reaffirmed the longstanding bilateral relations between Zambia and Serbia, which dates back to the time of Zambia’s independence when Serbia was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
President Vućić reasserted his open invitation to President Hakainde Hichilema to visit Serbia at his earliest convenience, with the aim of revitalizing high-level political dialogue between the two nations.
In subsequent bilateral meetings that the Ambassador held with Serbian Ministers and top government officials, goodwill to establish cooperation in various sectors of economic development was evident.
Serbia’s Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, Dr. Jelena Begović, pledged to build new linkages between the scientific and research institutions of both countries. This cooperation aims to tackle climate change-related problems through the exchange of experiences and knowledge as new technologies and science are important in solving such problems.
Ambassador Mulenga emphasized that the strengthening of ties between the Serbian and Zambian Ministries of Science, could pave the way for broader scientific and business cooperation with the aim of solving the problems which are primarily related to climate change and its effect on agriculture.
“Zambia is facing a staple food shortage, due to a very serious drought that has hit us therefore cooperation with Serbian scientific and research organizations would be of great importance in opening up and increasing the transfer of technology in our country. The sooner we work towards establishing connections between our two ministries, the better.” Ambassador Mulenga added.
Discussions between Ambassador Mulenga and Serbia’s Minister of Economy were on expanding bilateral cooperation. Minister Adrijana Mesarović identified opportunities for knowledge transfer in agricultural production, food and pharmaceutical industries, information technology, energy, infrastructure, and education which represent possible opportunities for deepening economic cooperation between Serbia and Zambia for mutual economic benefits for both countries. The Ambassador was inspired by the work of the Government of Serbia in improving the business environment and supporting foreign investments and expressed optimism about the potential for collaboration in the aforementioned areas.
Serbia, with its rapidly growing economy and upcoming Expo Belgrade 2027 whose theme is ‘Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for all’, is set to become a global hub for education, culture, and innovation. The Expo, which will be held under the auspices of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), is expected to attract participants from 120 countries and 10 international organizations. Zambia, with its strengthening cooperation with Serbia, aspires to have its own pavilion at the Expo.
This is contained in a statement issued by first Secretary for Press Naomi Mweemba at the Embassy of Zambia in France.
