LUSAKA – On January 24, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen concluded a two-day visit to Zambia during which she met with President Hakainde Hichilema and other senior government officials, officially opened the new U.S.-supported Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) Public Health Emergency Operations Center, and conducted multiple other site visits to strengthen the U.S.-Zambia partnership.
Following the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit held last month in Washington, DC, where President Biden announced over $15 billion in U.S.-Africa trade and investment deals and partnerships, Secretary Yellen’s visit illustrated the United States’ commitment to deepening U.S.-Zambia economic ties, including by expanding trade and investment flows and promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
In her meetings with President Hichilema, Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane, and Bank of Zambia Governor Denny H. Kalyalya, Secretary Yellen discussed ways the United States can work with Zambian leaders to build a stronger and more resilient economy that benefits Zambians, Americans, and the entire world. She also emphasized the importance of combatting corruption to attract foreign investment and ensuring public procurements processes are fair and transparent.
Secretary Yellen also toured two agricultural sites, including a Green Climate Fund project focused on increasing the climate resilience of smallholder farmers in Zambia, and Java Foods, a Zambian company leading the way in helping Zambia become a breadbasket for the region. At the Green Climate Fund site, Secretary Yellen delivered remarks highlighting the joint U.S.-Zambia efforts to promote climate-resilient agriculture and food production, as well as to mitigate the global spillover effects of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Secretary Yellen also toured Mylan Laboratories, a U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturer’s Zambia lab where malaria and HIV treatment drugs are manufactured for the region. During the visit, the Secretary highlighted the importance of providing greater economic opportunity for communities and businesses.
Read more about Secretary Yellen’s engagements in Zambia, including her remarks, here: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases.
