A senior Zambian government official said on Thursday that more Chinese investment in the manufacturing of agricultural equipment will go a long way in boosting the southern African nation's agricultural production.

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Permanent Secretary Siazongo Siakalenge told Xinhua in an interview that Zambia is in need of more companies to invest in the manufacture of agricultural equipment so that farmers could increase their production yields.

"Provision of agricultural equipment will assist small-scale farmers to improve the level of production and this will go a long way in reducing levels of poverty in rural areas," he said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 15th anniversary of CAMCO Equipment Zambia Limited, a Chinese firm that has been supplying agricultural and construction equipment in Zambia, the official said the firm needs to be commended for not only being one of the leading suppliers of agricultural equipment in Zambia but for also offering affordable equipment to the farmers.

He said more Chinese firms should be encouraged to invest in the manufacture of agricultural equipment in order to help the country boost its production.

Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao said his mission was to ensure that more Chinese enterprises invested in Zambia's manufacturing sector in order to help the southern African nation develop.

The Chinese envoy, who commended the company for being a major supplier of equipment to the agricultural and construction sectors, said the company should consider starting manufacturing some of the products locally instead of only importing them from China.

According to the Chinese envoy, he was on a tour of Chinese firms in Zambia for the past week to check which firms were involved in manufacturing industry and revealed that he was impressed that a considerable number of firms are involved in the manufacturing of various products.

"I am glad that the manufacturing industry in Zambia is expanding and I was impressed that quite a good number of Chinese investors are involved in the manufacturing industry. I am also encouraging more Chinese firms to venture into manufacturing," he said.

CAMCO Zambia Limited, a member of CAMCO Group of Companies, started operating in Zambia in 1998 and has been one the major of agricultural and construction equipment in Zambia.



The colorful event, which was also attended by Zambia's first President Kenneth Kaunda, was characterized by cultural performances from both Zambia and China.