Mmobile Telecommunication (MTech) launched the first mobile phone manufacturing plant in Lusaka at a cost of US$10 million.

The project comes at a time the Zambian government was assuring private investors of its intention to reduce the international gateway licensing fees to the regional average, to reduce the cost of doing business in the communications sector.

The plant, wholly owned by locals and supported by the government and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, will create 200 jobs for among others engineers and technicians.

“This is what Zambians should be doing to attract foreign investors….leading the way by investing in the country.” said President Rupiah Banda while commissioning the plant.

Demand for mobile phones in the last few years has grown tremendously, creating opportunities in the competitive phone market.

The government, to promote the growth of the manufacturing sector, suspended duty on imports used in manufacturing.