Table 1: Summary of Issues Discussed in the Panel Discussions and Presentations

• Though linkages are very strong, Zambian manufacturers prefer to use foreign-owned outbound trucks on the basis of cost

• Poor state of road infrastructure and volatile and unpredictable fuel pricing mechanism (which affects effective business planning)

• Government should explore measures that could be instituted to stabilise the cost and pricing of fuel (in order to make the cost of doing business more predictable)

Role of Transport and Logistics in Economic Development: ZACCI Presentation

Transport and logistics sector plays a vital role in the economic development of the country and is essential for facilitating export and import trade:

• Marine and inland waterways sub-sector has been overlooked

• Poor road infrastructure is the main challenge in transportation sector

• Taking advantage of Zambia’s geographical advantage, there is need to consider Tanganyika Marine Services for purposes of servicing markets in the Great Lakes region

• But there is need for infrastructure development to facilitate competitive market access

• Embark on the implementation of other transport-related interventions from authorities

• There is need to upgrade and revamp the railway sector in order for businesses to compete favourably in the region

• Address and reduce the cost of transportation and delays and embark on effective and more efficient regional coordination

The second LLZ Conference took place over a three (3)-day period from Wednesday 22nd to Friday 24th March 2023, beginning with the Golf Day on 22nd March and finishing off with simultaneous exhibitions and conference proceedings in the Main Hall of the MICC from 23rd to 24th March 2023. Proceedings were moderated by three (3) people, beginning with Ms Jacqueline Saidi Chishimba, Director for Strategic Communication and Partnerships at the PublicPrivate Dialogue Forum (PPDF), on the first day of the Conference and supported by Ms Mulemwa Moongwa, CEO for the MICE Academy and Dr Emmanuel Sampa,

Assistant Director (Road and Rail) at the MTL. The event was planned, organised and conducted by Africast Limited in-conjunction with the MTL. The second LLZ Conference and Exhibition was held under the theme “Leveraging on the Impacts of the AfCFTA for the African Transport and Logistics Industry”. The event commenced with pre-registration, a golf tournament (The Transport and Logistics Corporate Golf Day) and welcome reception (Welcome Cocktail and the 2023 LLZ Golf Prize Giving Ceremony) at the MTL headquarters in Lusaka. The golf tournament (and prizegiving ceremony) was held at Bonanza Golf Course, Ciela Resort in Lusaka. Participants were drawn from various sectors of the Zambian economy: public and private sectors and well as development agencies and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), as well as other delegates drawn from various parts of the continent: Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Other international participants came from Australia and United Kingdom (UK). In addition to the twoday conference proceedings, there were various exhibitions within the venue of the conference.

OBJECTIVES OF THE 2023 LAND-LINKED ZAMBIA CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

The Conference and Exhibition objectives were:

• Provide a platform for all stakeholders in the transport and logistics sector on how to provide optimum, effective and efficient transportation and logistics solutions to improve service delivery to better respond to the needs of users of the transport and logistics system whilst championing ethical and sustainable business practices through transparency

• Promote the supply-chain architecture, infrastructure, equipment and materials including the labour resource capital

• Provide a platform for national and regional dialogue on transport and logistics as an enabler for socio-economic development

• Serve as a forum for discussion and information exchange on the implementation of policy, strategy and technology applications for all aspects and modes of transportation

• Debate and discuss better cooperation and engagement between the public and private sectors, identify challenges and discuss solutions and formulate appropriate action plans