with the budget themes for 2009 and 2010 of “ enhancing growth through competitiveness and diversification ”. in collaboration with the development partners, government will provide the necessary support institutions, infrastructure and services conducive to efficient and competitive manufacturing. i would like to strongly encourage zambian firms particularly members of zam to take advantage of the opportunities created under this initiative. mr president, as i conclude my remarks, i wish you and your members a prosperous 2010. i thank you for your attention.

favourable in 2010 due to the rebound of copper prices on the international market as well as the expected increase in copper production as some mines increase production to full capacity and the resumption of production at some mines. the rebound in the international price of copper in the second half of 2009 and the return of foreign portfolio flows resulted in an appreciation of the exchange rate of the kwacha by 4 % at the end of the year. however, fiscal performance in 2009 was weak, mainly due to the global economic crisis, which reduced domestic revenues. despite this, government remained within the programmed domestic financing for the year. december - 2009 inflation revised to 12. 0 % in the budget speech for 2010 presented to parliament on october 9, 2009. distinguished members, the financial sector has remained resilient despite the effects of the recent global financial crisis. currently, the zambian financial sector is characterized by high liquidity levels, reflecting tighter lending standards in the wake of the lessons from the global financial crisis leading to marked decline in private sector lending. as a result, the demand for the relatively risk free government securities has increased causing a decline in yield rates on government securities. the decline in government securities yield rates and relatively low inflation experienced since the beginning of the year should contribute to a decline in banks lending rates and thus stimulate borrowing by the private sector. i am aware that the high interest rates in the country pose a very big challenge for our manufacturers to borrow for recapitalisation and expansion of their businesses. access to finance is essential for the economy to grow and therefore it is necessary that we find ways that could reduce the cost of borrowing to allow key sectors to expand. ladies and gentlemen, i wish to reiterate that the economic fundamentals point to a reduction in lending rates. in a liberalised financial market environment, the central bank contributes to the reduction in lending rates by reducing inflation. the government also contributes by implementing prudent fiscal policy, thus limiting the incidence of crowding out of the private sector by the government. as a result, yield rates on government securities fall. as inflation and yield rates on government securities decline, lending rates are also expected to decline in the medium to long term as the two provide the relevant opportunity cost of lending to the private sector. another factor that commercial banks take into consideration in determining lending rates is the default risk arising from the poor credit culture in the economy in general. in resolving the problem of poor credit culture, the central bank through the financial sector development