AgriTech Expo represents the biggest agricultural show in Zambia and includes hundreds of local and international exhibitors. Visitors can attend live crop trials and machinery demonstrations, practical workshops, and business lounges. The fair offers an interesting opportunity for producers of agricultural machinery, fodder, food-processing technologies including breweries and distilleries or solutions for water treatment and irrigation.

The Czech Republic has launched its pavilion for the third consecutive time. This year, six companies presented their products – Eurobagging, Farmet, Breeding Cooperative Impuls, TechnoExport, VVS Verměřovice and Zetor – and were accompanied by Mendel University and Czech non-governmental organisations implementing development projects in Zambian agricultural sector.

One of the visitors of the Czech stand was also the President of the Republic of Zambia His Excellency Edgar Chalwa Lungu together with the Minister of Agriculture Hon. Michael J. Katambo. “I appreciate that Czech Republic and Zambia cooperate in numerous fields and that every year new initiatives emerge,” concluded his visit among Czech companies the President. Reciprocally, Deputy Minister Tlapa, commended Zambia as an important partner. Since the re-opening of the Embassy in 2017, the mutual relations have been steadily progressing.

To deepen further bilateral ties, Deputy Minister Tlapa met, among others, the Permanent Secretary of the Zambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Chalwe Lombe. The two diplomats discussed potential for developing the mutual relations, preparations of high-level visits, and cooperation within the international organisations. "Zambia offers investment opportunities in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, health and transport sectors, and the Czech Republic can offer extensive expertise in all of these sectors," agreed the two dignitaries. The main task for the two parties is to successfully conclude the negotiations of the bilateral treaty on prevention of double taxation.

Furthermore, Zambia belongs among six priority countries for the Czech development cooperation. The overall budget of its operations in Zambia alone reaches almost three million US dollars annually. During the last day of his visit, Deputy Minister Tlapa visited the Czech Centre of Excellence, a demonstration farm for small-scale farmers in Zambia. "Hundreds of successful trainings in growing of new and more resistant varieties of agricultural plants, use of trees, fish farming, using biogas or solar energy, or new techniques for cattle breeding showcase the Czech contribution towards the development of Zambia," summed up the Deputy Minister.

President Edgar Lungu visits the Czech pavilion during the AgriTech Expo 2019.