Assistant Secretary Venkataraman to Travel to Zambia to Open 13th Commercial Service Office in Africa at U.S. Embassy in Lusaka

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Contact: Office of Public Affairs
Email: publicaffairs@trade.gov
Phone: 202-482-3809

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Arun Venkataraman will travel to Lusaka, Zambia from October 31-November 2, to advance U.S.-Zambia bilateral commercial ties and celebrate the opening of the 13th Commercial Service office on the African continent that will operate out of the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka.

During the visit, Assistant Secretary Venkataraman will meet with senior officials of the Zambian government to discuss ongoing efforts and collaboration to promote a business enabling environment to further deepen U.S.-Zambia trade and investment. In his meetings, he will also discuss efforts like the Lobito Economic Corridor and opportunities for U.S. private sector leadership and innovation to help Zambia bolster its competitiveness and achieve its economic development goals. Assistant Secretary Venkataraman will also discuss progress made under a commercial Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and the Zambian Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and continued efforts to foster collaboration and policy alignment across a variety of sectors.

On November 2, the Assistant Secretary will celebrate the opening of a new Commercial Service office that will operate out of the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka. The new office will serve as the U.S. Department of Commerce’s official presence in Zambia and will play a crucial role in facilitating the business-to-business connections at the heart of the U.S.-Zambia commercial relationship.

Assistant Secretary Venkataraman will also meet with U.S. and Zambian business community leaders to hear their views on the opportunities and challenges of operating in the Zambian market and convey the Department’s ongoing commitment to finding ways to deepen engagement in Zambia and across the African continent to increase trade and investment.

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