The recent tour to India by the Vice president Inonge Wina in the company of Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga bore into a US$7million investment by a cotton company.
The Vice President toured Shree Vagmi Company Cotton Factory in Indore, in the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh which resulted in talks about a cotton lint processing factory to be set up in Zambia.
“I am happy to note that the Company has already acquired a 26 acre land in Mwembeshi area, Chibombo District, Central Province,” Ms Wina said.
Meanwhile, Vagmi Company Chief Executive Officer Amit Dwivedi alluded that in 2020, his company would evolve from cotton ginning to a full textile which would resuscitate the once vibrant textile industry in Zambia.
Dwivedi added that in the next two years, the company would engage 23000 cotton farmers from Chipata, Katete, Lundazi Mumbwa , Petauke, Shibuyunji among others.
“My company further identified Boniface Daka from Lusaka’s Chawama area who has been fully sponsored and is undertaking a yearlong training programme in India focusing on factory engineering and operations management,” Dwivedi said.
The company stated that it will be running an out grower scheme where it will supply farmers with seed, chemicals, wool packs and shall collect cotton from farming areas because we will procure an initial 15 trucks.
Zambia’ High Commissioner to India also expressed happiness by noting with gratitude at the offer of Vagmi Cottons Company to construct houses for some Zambian staff to be running the factory.
This is according to a statement availed by the First Secretary Press and Tourism at the Zambian Mission in India, Bangwe Naviley.
