LUSAKA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has given Zambia a grant of about 800,000 Euros to help the nation implement trade-related programs in gold mining and agro-based sectors, a senior Zambian official said Wednesday.
Kayula Siame, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, said the new grant, which follows an initial grant of 420,000 Euros, will help formalize 12 mining cooperatives.
The grant, offered through the Southern African Development Community Trade Related Facility project, will be used to procure gold panning and mining equipment for the cooperatives as well as to buy other equipment to help small-scale gold miners, according to Siame.
She said the grant will also help train selected farmers for food safety and management systems.
The official said she believed that these activities will gain meaningful results.
