Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga has called for increased intra trade among commonwealth member states.

Mrs. Kapijimpanga also says bigger economies such As India should help countries like Zambia to develop capacity to create value addition to raw materials within the country of production.

She was speaking at the Progress Harmony Development (PHD) chamber discussion held at PHD house in New Delhi, India, under the theme: commonwealth renewal; taking the tide by its flood.

According to a statement released by first secretary press and tourism at the Zambian Mission in new Delhi, India, Bangwe Naviley, Ms. Kapijimpanga has emphasized that Zambia remains a democratic state and a committed member of the commonwealth that respects the values set by the organisation.

And Former Commonwealth Secretary General Kamlesh Sharma says members of the commonwealth will make a lot of progress if they focus on youth empowerment.

He says he is particularly inspired to note that over seventy percent of the population in Zambia is young.

Mr. Sharma says there is need for rapid spread of science, technology, innovation, and focus more on development for the youth especially that sixty percent of the commonwealth’s population is under the age of thirty.

He says the commonwealth is an important engine for growth because it has 53 countries as members worldwide with a population of two point four billion people.

Ambassador Sharma says commonwealth intra trade by the year 2020 is estimated at one point five trillion us dollars.