On Wednesday 12 November, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema urged Europeans to invest massively in his country, which he has governed since 2021, at the first-ever ‘EU-Zambia’ investment forum devoted to the Lobito Corridor. Mr Hichilema called for a genuine business partnership between Zambia and the European Union.
“Europe must do more with Zambia and Africa (...) Zambia is ready for business and we are doing everything to improve the ‘business’ environment”, stressed the President during his opening address at the forum to which Agence Europe was invited.
“Europeans, you are in the right place”, he told over 450 participants, including members of the ‘Team Europe’ coalition of financial institutions and investors.
In line with this approach, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, has defended the ‘Global Gateway’ initiative, with the aim of achieving mutually beneficial development agreements, moving away from the traditional donor-recipient model of official development assistance, now perceived as outdated and insufficient for both Zambians and Europeans.
“You have a wealth of copper and other minerals, vast amounts of land, and water reserves. The challenge is unlocking this potential and creating new opportunities on the ground”, said Mr Síkela, underlining the need to strengthen the respective security and prosperity of the EU and Zambia in a context of global competition for access to critical raw materials.
In order to attract the private sector to this landlocked country in southern Africa, a total of €200 million will be mobilised by the EU for a series of development projects. These include €41 million for the NEWZA water supply project, €40 million for education reforms and €30 million for agricultural development.
Strengthening Europe’s presence in the mining region. A €50 million subsidy has also been promised by the European Commission to the national company Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) for the rehabilitation of railways, in particular those linking Chingola, in the Copperbelt province, to the Zambian capital, Lusaka, and as far as Livingstone, in the south of the country.
As well as modernising infrastructure, this strategic EU contribution could help to strengthen Europe’s presence in the cross-border Copperbelt mining region, which is much safer on the Zambian side than in the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as in the north-western provinces. Eventually, the region could be linked to Angola by a railway line to the port of Lobito, a strategic point for exports to Europe.
“Zambia is changing fast. The government’s plan to triple copper production and expand agriculture shows the scale of the opportunities and the potential to create value locally, generate meaningful jobs and improve lives. But this requires efficient and reliable transport”, said the European Commissioner at a press conference on Monday 10 November.
In its quest for economic growth, Zambia, which has been hard hit by several episodes of drought, is also seeking to combat the effects of climate change and implement environmentally-friendly solutions - a priority also highlighted by the EU in its partnership offer.
“We’re here to help you become more environmentally intelligent”, insisted an expert from an EU country to Charles Sakanya on Tuesday, the manager of the Mopani copper mine, which employs nearly 12,500 people at its two extraction sites in Mufulira and Nkana, and also runs four schools, two hospitals and several social and sports clubs.
Chinese competition and prospects. While relations between the EU and the Zambian government have improved markedly since the election of Mr Hichilema, Zambia remains sensitive to the offer of China, whose rapid and massive support - including humanitarian aid - has enabled the construction of major mining and transport infrastructures, consolidating its imposing presence in the country.
Furthermore, despite considerable potential, the involvement of European small and medium-sized enterprises in the country remains hampered by persistent corruption and a still fragile Rule of law, a high-level source told Agence Europe on Tuesday.
General elections are scheduled for August 2026. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)