President Edgar Lungu has directed the Ministers of Finance and National Planning to expedite engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

President Lungu says this is in order that the process of seeking an IMF funded programme can also advance.

Speaking when he met World Bank Vice president for Africa Hafez Ghanem at State House, President Lungu expressed hope that government will enter into a deal with the IMF in due course.

President Lungu says government is also determined to engage with the World Bank in a constructive manner .

He has since commended Dr. Ghanem for coming to Zambia at a time when some opposition political parties have deployed rancour attacks to derail the economy.

And Dr. Ghanem has encouraged President Lungu to engage with the IMF in a discussion so that the possibility of an IMF funded programme can be feasible.

Dr. Ghanem says the World Bank is also available to offer technical support to Zambia in renegotiating the restructuring of the loans that Zambia has with China.

Meanwhile President Lungu says government will do everything possible to assist investors that are keen on doing business in Zambia.

He has urged them to explore the abundant investment opportunities there are in the Country.

President Lungu said this when he met five investors from Luapula Province at State House.

And one of the investors Sunbird Bio Energy Limited Group Chairman Rajan Mahtan has assured President Lungu the alleged smear campaign against government has not affected investors in any way.

Dr. Mahtan says investors already know the truth of what is going on.

The investors that together with Dr. Mahtan met the President at State House are GED Africa Limited Country Representative Marcus Ascott, Mansa Sugar Managing Director Kumar Natarajan, MMRP Manganese Mine Limited Chairman Sitaramachandra Raju and Kawambwa Sugar Limited senior manager in charge of administration Annie Chimota.