President Hichilema Holds Copper Talks With Mopani Co-Owner in Abu Dhabi

President Hakainde Hichilema has arrived in Abu Dhabi for a two-day working visit to the United Arab Emirates, opening the trip with talks on the future of one of Zambia's largest copper mines.

On arrival, the President told citizens that strong international partnerships and more inward investment are crucial to the Grow Zambia agenda. He thanked Zambians for their continued support and prayers.

On the sidelines of the visit, President Hichilema met Mr. Ali Rashed Alrashdi, Chief Executive Officer of International Resources Holding (IRH). IRH owns Mopani Copper Mines together with the state-owned ZCCM-IH.

The talks centred on copper. Raising national output to three million tonnes a year is a core target of the Grow Zambia agenda. The President described Mopani as key to reaching it, for the benefit of the mine's shareholders and, above all, the Zambian people.

He also pressed IRH on the Local Content law, stressing that mining companies must apply it in full. The law is designed to ensure more Zambians take part in the mining sector and share in its rewards, through jobs, contracts and supply chains.

The message was consistent with the government's wider position on natural resources. President Hichilema said the government remains committed to making sure Zambia's resources, copper chief among them, deliver real benefits to its people as the Grow Zambia agenda is implemented.

The working visit continues, with a focus on building partnerships and attracting investment to Zambia.