Lusaka - Zambia showcased its economic ambition to the world with the hosting of the inaugural Invest in Zambia International Conference IZIC at Lusaka's Mulungushi International Conference Centre. Spanning three days from 16-18 July, the event gathered government officials, international investors and business leaders under the theme "Driving Generational Transformative Investments Through Joint Ventures and Partnerships".
For President Hakainde Hichilema, the message was clear: Zambia is not just open for business - it is actively dismantling barriers that historically stifled investment.
"We have realised that government bureaucracies can weigh businesses down," President Hichilema told delegates. "So, we have established a Presidential Delivery Unit... to accelerate the resolution of issues that hinder business operations."
This new unit, he explained, will directly address investor concerns and streamline decision-making. His remarks set the tone for a conference focused as much on implementation as ambition.
Big numbers, strategic sectorsThe headline figures quickly followed: by mid-conference, the Zambia Development Agency ZDA had facilitated Memorandums of Understanding MoUs worth roughly ZMW 46.6bn around 2bn. The agreements span critical sectors - energy, agriculture and mining - aligning with Zambia's broader vision for economic diversification and resilience.