ZAMBIA AND JAPAN STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AT LUSAKA BUSINESS FORUM

Home News Home Affairs

Posted by admin on March 11, 2026 at 3:19 AM

Share: Visits: 767

Zambia and Japan have reaffirmed their growing economic partnership following the successful hosting of the Zambia–Japan Business Forum in Lusaka, which brought together 21 Japanese investors, senior government officials, and Zambian private-sector leaders.

The forum builds on progress made during President Hakainde Hichilema’s state visit to Japan in February 2025, which paved the way for enhanced collaboration between the two nations.

Officiating at the event, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga described the forum as a major milestone in advancing trade and investment relations.

He acknowledged Japan’s long-standing role as a trusted development partner and highlighted the recently signed Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) as a key instrument to boost investor confidence and open new opportunities for private-sector-driven growth.

Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Director General Albert Halwampa encouraged the visiting delegation to explore opportunities across priority sectors including energy, manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and transport.

He noted that Zambia’s political stability, pro-business reforms, and access to regional markets through SADC, COMESA, and AfCFTA position the country as an attractive investment destination.

Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan Dr. Tobias Mulimbika emphasized that President Hichilema’s visit to Japan last year had yielded tangible results, with commitments to deepen cooperation and increase Japanese investment now materializing through the forum.

Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Mikami Akiteru underscored the significance of the forum in strengthening ties between the two nations, noting that it sought to move beyond traditional frameworks by exploring new avenues for collaboration and growth.

The forum concluded with calls for businesses from both countries to build strong partnerships that translate engagements into concrete investment outcomes, reinforcing Zambia’s ambition to attract sustainable investment and diversify its economy.