Japanese Ambassador impressed by Zambeef operations

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – Zambia’s natural resources combined with Japanese wealth and technology can help the country feed the region, according to Zambeef Joint Chief Executive Officer Francis Grogan.

Speaking during a visit to the company’s operation in Chisamba yesterday by Japanese Ambassador to Zambia H.E. Kiyoshi Koinuma, he said: “Japan has vast wealth and technology, we in Zambia have vast natural resources, specifically in the food business we have huge opportunities to process food, value add food and distribute food to the region.”

Mr Grogan described Zambia as a country that is ideal for foreign investment because of the huge market opportunity it has to “feed the 400 million” inhabitants in the region. He stated that the Japanese with their wealth and technology can reap great rewards if they invested in agribusiness in Zambia, particularly from water harvesting, irrigation and fish farming.

The delegation, which was led by the ambassador toured Zambeef’s meat processing plant and feedlot where they were shown how the company sources its meat and processes before distributing it around the country.

Ambassador Koinuma said he has visited Zambeef before and he was always impressed by how well organised the operations of Zambeef were and its good business model.
He added that he believed Zambeef could feed the region and that he admired Zambeef’s mission statement, “Zambeef feeding the nation”.

Kimihiko Inaba, a member of the delegation and the executive director of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), said after the tour that he was impressed by Zambeef’s quality control and the care it takes of its animals.

“I can see why Zambeef is very successful,” he added.

Participants in the delegation represented members of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in South Africa, Japanese companies in Zambia, Japan External Trade Organisation, Japan International Cooperation (JICA) Zambia office and the Embassy of Japan.

About Zambeef Products Plc
Zambeef Products Plc is the largest integrated agribusinesses in Zambia.
The group is principally involved in the production, processing, distribution and retailing of beef, chicken, pork, milk, dairy products, eggs, stock feed and flour. The group also has large row cropping operations (principally maize, soya beans and wheat), with approximately 8,350 hectares of row crops under irrigation and 17,000 hectares of rain-fed/dry-land crops available for planting each year. The group is also in the process of rolling out its West Africa expansion in Nigeria and Ghana, as well as developing a palm project in Zambia.
It slaughters more than 80,000 beef cattle and 6 million chickens, and processes 8 million litres of milk per year. The company has 122 retail outlets throughout the country, along with three wholesale depots.
More information is available at www.zambeefplc.com.