Hon. Haimbe Calls for Stronger Private Sector Partnerships to Tackle Poverty and Drive Development
Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, SC, MP, has hailed private sector investments as pivotal to unlocking the financing needed to eradicate poverty and advance sustainable development.
Speaking during a high-level side event on private sector mobilisation at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, Hon. Haimbe emphasized the importance of strategic public-private partnerships (PPPs) in catalysing progress across critical sectors.
“Projects that address poverty, health, education, and climate change require more than public resources alone,” Hon. Haimbe said. “It is essential that governments work hand-in-hand with the private sector to scale up solutions, unlock investment, and deliver meaningful impact.”
He noted that Zambia has taken deliberate steps to foster a private sector–friendly environment by enacting policies and regulatory frameworks that support PPPs. The government’s approach, he said, is already bearing fruit, particularly in infrastructure development where road projects are opening economic corridors, boosting trade, and connecting rural communities.
Highlighting infrastructure, agriculture, energy, health, and education as key investment sectors, Hon. Haimbe emphasised that these areas are not only vital to Zambia’s sustainable growth but also offer attractive returns for investors when supported by sound policy and partnerships.
“The private sector holds immense potential to drive growth, create jobs, and foster innovation,” he stated. “Zambia is committed to providing an enabling environment that aligns national development priorities with investor interest.”
Hon. Haimbe also acknowledged Zambia’s ongoing debt restructuring efforts, thanking the country’s creditors and institutions involved in the process. He noted that Zambia is close to concluding its restructuring journey, which will enhance fiscal space and investor confidence.
Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E. Dr. Chola Milambo, also spoke at the event, calling for the translation of the Seville Commitments into concrete strategies.
He stressed the importance of innovative instruments to bridge financing gaps, especially around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and reaffirmed Zambia’s readiness to collaborate with partners to turn pledges into progress.
The event, held on the margins of the FFD4, was co-sponsored by Zambia, Kenya, Sweden, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), and the UN Centre for Policy Research.
Representatives from Sweden and Kenya echoed Zambia’s sentiments, reaffirming the indispensable role of the private sector in driving development financing and achieving global goals.
