The Rapid Assessment Report of Value Addition and Diversification within and beyond the critical energy transition minerals value chain has revealed that Zambia has a 1.4 billion United States Dollar potential export value.

This is from over 400 products identified in the assessment, funded by the Japanese government and carried out by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) across 25 sectors where the country can diversify.

Speaking when he officiated at a report presentation meeting, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga has disclosed that more than 30, 000 jobs have been created in the value – addition sector, in the country within the last four years.

He said this is because the government has invested in five new copper processors within the last four years.

He has since appealed to the international community to support Zambia’s policy shift from extractive to value addition in order for the country’s grading to change.

Earlier, UNCTAD Secretary General, Rebecca Grynspan, disclosed that Zambia currently spends 229 million United States Dollars on imports that the country can produce locally.

Meanwhile, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Beatrice Mutali noted that the opportunities identified in the assessment could generate over 100,000 jobs across the economy if effectively implemented.