SDG Center for Africa

WELCOMING REMARKS BY HON.ALEXANDER CHITEME, MP
MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING, ZAMBIA

THE HONORABLE MINISTERS FROM SADC COUNTRIES,
MY FELLOW CABINET MINISTERS FROM ZAMBIA,
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE SDG CENTRE FOR AFRICA, AND YOUR TEAM
YOUR EXCELLENCIES, AMBASSADORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS,
SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM SADC AND ZAMBIA,
COLLEAGUES FROM ACADEMIA, CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRIVATE SECTOR,
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA AND INDEED ON MY OWN BEHALF, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS EVENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR, THE LAUNCH OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL CENTRE OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS CENTRE FOR AFRICA.

A SPECIAL WELCOME TO ZAMBIA FOR THOSE COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY. ZAMBIA IS A WARM AND HOSPITABLE PLACE. WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HAVE VISITORS AND WE HAVE A LOT TO SHARE WITH YOU. I HOPE YOU WILL FIND TIME, AFTER THIS BUSY SCHEDULE TO SAMPLE SOME OUR TOURISM FACILITIES.

OUR GATHERING HERE IN LUSAKA DISPLAYS OUR COMMITMENT AND DETERMINATION TO ACT TOGETHER IN PURSUIT OF A SHARED AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT VISION, THE VISION OF ENSURING THAT THE SDG AGENDA 2030 IS ACTUALIZED.

I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THIS EVENT WILL REINFORCE THAT COMMITMENT AND THAT WE WILL ALL LEAVE HERE WITH A GREATER RESOLVE TO SERVING AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR REGION.

I AM ALSO HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF MANY GATHERINGS OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM ALL SECTORS REPRESENTED HERETO ADVANCE THE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA ENSHRINED IN THE POST 2015 AGENDA.

I WISH YOU FRUITFUL DELIBERATIONS AND A MEMORABLE EVENT.

I THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.