His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia visited India on a State Visit at the invitation of Hon’ble President of India, Mr Ram Nath Kovind from August 20-22, 2019. The Indian President had visited Zambia last year in April 2018.
President Edgar Lungu was accompanied by a high-level delegation including Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Joseph Malanji; Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry, Mr. Christopher Yaluma; Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Mr. Richard Musukwa; Presidential Affairs Minister, Mr. Freedom Sikazwe and senior Government officials.
The official programme of President Lungu included a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, visit to Rajghat, meeting with the President and delegation level talks with the India Prime Minister. A banquet was hosted by President Kovind in honour of the visiting President. President Lungu also participated in an India- Zambia Business Forum in New Delhi.
The bilateral reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and expected to cover issues of bilateral, regional and international interest. The discussion focussed on cooperation in defence, security, geology and mineral resources, energy, health, education, infrastructure, culture, trade and investment related issues. Capacity building continues to be an important aspect of engagement between India and Zambia.
India-Zambia enjoy close and friendly bilateral relations. The bilateral trade between the two countries has grown steadily.
In 2018-19, the bilateral trade was close to US$ 830 million. India primarily imports copper from Zambia. Zambia is the second-largest producer of copper in Africa. Zambia is also the beneficiary of India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme. With investments of over US$ 5 billion, mostly in the mining sector, India is one of the largest investor in Zambia.
India has provided considerable economic assistance to Zambia in the form of grants and credits. Zambia also avails large number of India’s ITEC, ICCR and IAFS scholarships. India and Zambia defence cooperation includes training and capacity building. Zambia has a large and vibrant Indian community of around 25,000 PIOs/NRIs that contributes to Zambian economy.
This is the first visit at the level of Head of State from Africa after formation of the new Government and the first-ever visit of President Lungu to India. The visit is significant in the context of India’s Africa outreach policy. In the last five years, India has had 32 outgoing visits at the level of President, Vice President and PM and nearly 100 incoming visits of African HoS/HoG. India’s overall relations with Africa in defence, security, economic, trade and investment relations, development partnership and capacity building are at an all-time high. The State visit of President Lungu provided an opportunity to further energize India’s mutually beneficial partnership with Zambia.
List of MoU/Agreements exchanged during the State Visit of President of the Republic of Zambia to India
| Sl. No. | Name of the MOU/Agreement/Treaty | This will be exchanged on the Zambian side by | And on the Indian side by |
| 1 | MoU on Cooperation in the field of Geology and Mineral Resources | Hon. Richard Musukwa, Minister of Mines and Minerals Resources | Shri Pralhad Joshi, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coals and Mines |
| 2 | MoU on cooperation in the field of Defence | Hon. Joseph Malanji, Minister of Foreign Affairs | Shri V. Muraleedharan,
MOS in the Ministry of External Affairs |
| 3 | MoU on cooperation in the field of Arts & Culture | Hon. Joseph Malanji, Minister of Foreign Affairs | Shri V. Muraleedharan,
MOS in the Ministry of External Affairs |
| 4 | MoU between Foreign Service Institute of India and Zambian Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies | Hon. Joseph Malanji, Minister of Foreign Affairs | Shri V. Muraleedharan,
MOS in the Ministry of External Affairs |
| 5 | MoU on EVBAB Network Project | Hon. Joseph Malanji, Minister of Foreign Affairs | Shri V. Muraleedharan,
MOS in the Ministry of External Affairs |
| 6 | MoU between Election Commission of India and Electoral Commission of Zambia | Hon. Justice Esau Chulu, Chairperson, Electoral Commission of Zambia | Shri V. Muraleedharan,
MOS in the Ministry of External Affairs |
Source: MEA, India
