Zambia Targets Major Energy and Mining Investments as ZDA Hosts Hunan Province Delegation
The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has received an investment delegation from Hunan Province in the People’s Republic of China, as part of ongoing efforts to attract increased investment into Zambia’s priority economic sectors.
Welcoming the delegation, ZDA Director General Mr Albert Halwampa highlighted Zambia’s vast investment opportunities in mining, agriculture and energy, noting that these sectors remain central to the country’s economic transformation agenda.
Mr Halwampa emphasised the critical role of energy in driving industrialisation, calling for increased investment in renewable and alternative energy sources.
“Energy investment in solar, wind, thermal and waste-to-energy is crucial for us. We are looking for investors who can help us reach 10,000 megawatts in the shortest possible time,” he said.
He assured the Hunan delegation of ZDA’s full support once investments are established and outlined incentives available under Zambia’s investment licensing framework. These include zero customs duty, accelerated depreciation and zero per cent income tax for qualifying businesses operating in Multi-Facility Economic Zones.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr Jiang Jun, Deputy Director of the Hunan Provincial Development and Reform Commission, said the group had identified strong business potential in Zambia, particularly in the mining and tourism sectors.
Mr Jiang noted that Hunan Province is one of China’s top-performing economic regions, recording a Gross Domestic Product of 5.53 trillion RMB in 2025, and is currently the largest African trading partner among western Chinese provinces.
He revealed that in 2025 alone, Hunan Province established 22 enterprises in Zambia, 10 of which are already operational, with a total investment value of US$52.4 million.
“I believe that through this meeting with the ZDA, cooperation between Hunan Province and Zambia will be further strengthened,” Mr Jiang said.
He called for an expansion in trade volumes between Zambia and Hunan, urging both sides to continue improving the business environment to support enterprise growth, investment and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Mr Jiang further encouraged Zambia to export more products to the Hunan market, particularly minerals and agricultural commodities. In return, he highlighted Hunan’s capacity to supply a wide range of products and services, including construction machinery, agricultural equipment, mining technologies, as well as healthcare and pharmaceutical products.
He added that Hunan Province has strong capabilities in modern agriculture, infrastructure development, construction machinery, non-ferrous mineral processing and new energy technologies—areas that closely align with Zambia’s development priorities.
Mr Jiang also extended an invitation to Zambian entrepreneurs to visit Hunan Province for further business engagement and highlighted major international expos that offer platforms for trade and investment promotion. These include the China–Africa Economic and Trade Expo, the Machinery Engineering Expo, the Transit Export General Aviation Expo, the Computer Conference and the International Tourism Festival.
