By ZR Reporter
Czech Republic Ambassador to Zambia Jiří Kyrian has called for stronger collaboration between his country and Zambia in advancing technology and innovation, saying the two nations share a vision of building knowledge-driven economies.
Ambassador Kyrian paid a courtesy call on Science and Technology Minister Felix Mutati in Lusaka, where the two leaders discussed new avenues of cooperation ahead of the Tech4Zambia Forum set for 27 October 2025 at the Intercontinental Hotel.
The event will bring together government, academia, the private sector and civil society to explore solutions in areas such as digital transformation, innovation, and research.
“This is more than just an event. It is an opportunity to connect Zambia’s growing innovation ecosystem with Czech expertise and industry,” Ambassador Kyrian said.
The forum follows the high-level visit to Zambia by Czech Deputy Prime Minister Marian Jurečka in May, which laid the foundation for scaling up bilateral engagement in science and technology.
Talks between Minister Mutati and Ambassador Kyrian also touched on the SLIM Project, which supports Zambia’s National Remote Sensing Center with advanced GIS and remote-sensing capabilities. The project includes software and hardware upgrades, training, and exchange programmes with Europe. A Zambian delegation is also expected to visit Prague and the European Space Agency in 2026 to strengthen capacity in space science and earth observation.
Ambassador Kyrian noted that Czech companies are increasingly showing interest in Zambia, particularly in space technology, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure. He cited earlier training provided to the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) in partnership with the Czech National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB).
Minister Mutati welcomed the growing partnership, saying Zambia is keen to embrace innovation as a driver of economic transformation.
“For us, technology is not just about gadgets, it is about creating opportunities for young people, improving public services, and positioning Zambia to compete globally,” Mutati said.
©️ Zambia Reports, September 23, 2025.