Norway continues strong support to Zambia for financial management including tax administration, central bank operations, auditor-general and budget support; as well as for climate change robust agriculture, wildlife and natural resource management. Zambia confirms that Norway’s support is relevant and needed under the new government.
These were the main items on the agenda when Norway’s Junior Minister for International Development Arvinn Gadgil and the Director of Development Policy Hege Hertzberg visited Zambia 24-26 October and met two ministers and several institutions supported by Norway.
In the meeting with Finance Minister, Hon. A.B. Chikwanda, Jr. Minister Gadgil informed about ongoing institutional cooperation including Norway’s Tax Administration, Norway’s central bank Norges Bank, and the Norwegian Auditor-General, with their Zambian counterparts. Norway also confirmed continued poverty reducing budget support. Minister Chikwanda informed about the new government’s economic development policies, and confirmed the relevance of Norway’s support.
Jr. Minister Gadgil also met Zambia’s Minister of Information and Tourism, Hon. Given Lubinda. Minister Lubinda informed the Norwegian delegation about Zambia’s policies within his ministry’s portfolio, and confirmed Zambia’s appreciation of Norway’s long term engagement in support of wildlife and natural resource management.
The Norwegian Jr. Minister and the Policy Director Hertzberg had further meetings with the Zambia Revenue Authority, the Auditor-General, and with international partners and non-government organisations during his stay in Lusaka.
While in Zambia, Jr. Minister Gadgil and Policy Director Hertzberg also attended the Regional network meeting on green economy in Chisamba (see parallel story).