The education and training sector will play a critical role both in developing entrepreneurial mindsets and in equipping future entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to successfully position new enterprises and manage their development and growth. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a fact that a thriving entrepreneurial culture has the potential to make a substantial contribution to our economic and social development and to achieving a balanced economic growth. The key therefore, is for businesses to be innovative and competitive at all times. To achieve this we need to develop outstanding young men and women who can be leaders in their fields and who are ambitious with a mindset to be successful and to compete at the highest level. Mr Chairman, I have no doubt that awards like yours can be hugely influential in fuelling the entrepreneurial urge and in inspiring youths to emulate the achievements of those whose enterprising dreams will be rewarded this evening. The award will also be key in raising public awareness on the need for continuous innovation among our youths. As you are aware, the engine of the fast growing economies such as China and India is the innovation and creativity of the young entrepreneurs in those economies. It is incumbent upon us therefore to also encourage our youths to take up their rightful place and contribute to the country’s development.
Furthermore, banks and Financial Institutions in Zambia have in the past lamented the low levels of banking and economic knowledge among graduates from tertiary institutions as well as the borrowing public in general. It is therefore gratifying to note that this evening, we celebrate and showcase the depth of the entrepreneurial talent that is flourishing in our schools of higher learning. It is also heartening to see these young men and women putting up high quality business proposals of a diverse range of projects. This speaks well for the inventiveness of our learning institutions and is a very welcome development indeed. Ladies and Gentlemen, this initiative represents a major milestone in developing linkages between the industry and tertiary institutions which is key in bridging the gap between expectations of employers and those of the labour force. It is also testimony that we have financial institutions and business entities that are willing and committed to promoting private entrepreneurship among young people in our country at the level of start-up businesses. Once again, I commend the sponsors and their partners for this important initiative. I am certain that your efforts will go a long way in contributing to the building of an entrepreneurial society in Zambia. This is a task not only for you but for everybody. I wish to urge in particular, the education system in Zambia to enhance their efforts in promoting positive attitudes towards entrepreneurship in the institutions of higher learning.