Inaugural Zambia-Bangladesh Business Forum Sparks New Economic Partnerships
A high-level Zambian delegation led by Mr. Crusivia Hichikumba, Permanent Secretary for Investment and Industrialisation at Zambia’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, is attending the inaugural Zambia-Bangladesh Business Forum in Dhaka.
This landmark event unites public and private sector leaders from both countries to explore new business and investment opportunities.
Bringing together 105 business leaders from diverse sectors—including textiles, garments, pharmaceuticals, ICT, manufacturing, agro-processing, and SMEs—the forum featured 27 Bangladeshi companies showcasing their capabilities.
In his keynote speech, Mr. Hichikumba highlighted Bangladesh’s global leadership in garment production, textiles, leather, and pharmaceuticals. He emphasized Bangladesh’s reliance on imported cotton, presenting a strategic opportunity for Zambia to supply raw materials and deepen textile value chain linkages.
Bangladesh is the world’s 14th largest pharmaceutical producer, exporting to over 130 countries, including the U.S. and Europe.
The Permanent Secretary encouraged investors to consider Zambia’s Special Economic Zones and Farm Blocks, which offer attractive fiscal incentives. Zambia currently hosts eight Special Economic Zones designed to foster joint ventures between foreign and local companies.
A milestone announcement was the official opening of the Office of the Honorary Consul of Zambia in Bangladesh, aimed at strengthening bilateral trade relations.
Mr. Hichikumba also extended a formal invitation to Bangladesh’s government and business community to participate in the upcoming Invest in Zambia International Conference, set for July 2025. The conference, themed “Zambia: The Rising Hub of Africa,” will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and partnership-building.
Complementing the discussions, Mr. Musokotwane Sichizuwe, Director of Industry at the Ministry, presented Zambia’s investment opportunities, highlighting pharmaceutical manufacturing, leather products, and textile sectors supported by a favorable fiscal regime.
