Finnish MPs visit Zambia

Zambia is Finland’s long-term partner in bilateral development cooperation. After the end of the Country Programme for Zambia, Finland has moved towards more commercial and economic cooperation.

The Development Policy Committee’s delegation was led by the Committee’s Vice-Chair, Member of Parliament Jani Kokko (Social Democratic Party). Members of Parliament Sari Tanus, DPC 2. chairperson (Christian Democrats), Eva Biaudet (Swedish People’s Party), Janne Heikkinen (National Coalition Party), Inka Hopsu (Greens), Ari Koponen (Finns Party), Mai Kivelä (Left Alliance) and Jouni Ovaska (Centre Party) were also part of the delegation. The composition of the delegation sent a strong message that Finland supports democracy and gender equality through its development and foreign policy. It did not go unnoticed in Zambia that the Finnish parliamentary group included representatives of four government parties and four opposition parties. Four of the MPs were women and four were men. Among the Development Policy Committee members represented in the delegation was also the Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland.

The exceptional number of high-level meetings arranged for the delegation reflects Zambia’s appreciation of decades of cooperation between Finland and Zambia and the success of diplomatic efforts. The delegation met Zambia’s political leadership, among them President Hakainde Hichilema, Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati and Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Elias Mubanga. In the Zambian Parliament, the group discussed with the Speaker of Parliament Nelly Mutti.

The high-level discussions focused, among other matters, on commercial cooperation, the importance of the education sector for Zambia’s development and responding to climate change. Discussions also covered cooperation between the two countries in multilateral forums, such as the UN, and Zambia’s strong support for Ukraine.

The delegation visited one of Finnfund’s investee companies, Yalelo, which is the largest aquaculture company in Sub-Saharan Africa. They also visited the Kariba Dam rehabilitation project, which is funded under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative. The large dam plays a key role in Zambia's electricity production.

Among the UN agencies visited were the World Food Programme’s (WFP) school meals project, which Finland has funded. In addition, the delegation visited the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNPFA) maternal health project. They also learned about the activities of two civil society organisations, Demo Finland and Save the Children Finland, whose projects in Zambia Finland is funding.

On the delegation’s agenda were also economic ties, especially the mining sector, which is vital to Zambia’s economy. The programme included a visit to First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi copper mine, where Finnish technology is widely used. In addition, the Geological Survey of Finland is conducting groundbreaking quality control and quality assurance in mineral mapping in Zambia. All forms of cooperation play an important role in supporting Zambia’s own efforts to achieve sustainable development.

Inquiries:

Marikki Karhu, Secretary General of the Development Policy Committee, tel. +358 50 525 8649, marikki.karhu@gov.fi

The Development Policy Committee is the only body dedicated to a systematic and broad-based monitoring and analysis of Finnish development cooperation and development policy. The Government appoints the Committee for each government term. The Committee is made up of the parties in Parliament, interest groups, civil society organisations and members of the UniPID network of Finnish universities.