The Zambian government has approved the acquisition of a $65.5 million loan from China's Export-Import Bank for the financing of Zambia National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development Project, otherwise known as Smart Zambia phase 1.

The Zambian government said the project is an important initiative to implement and enhance the development of the country's ICT.

The country's president is currently in China where he is expected to hold meetings with Chinese technology companies Huawei Technologies and ZTE.

The minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili said in a statement that the project will involve the construction of a national data centre and schools to improve ICT education in the country.

He said the contraction of the loan was approved during the fourth special cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 25 March 2015.