Zambia and Brazil to Host Strategic Business and Investment Symposium in October 2025 

Zambia and Brazil are set to deepen economic cooperation with a landmark Business and Investment Symposium, scheduled for October 2025, aimed at attracting Brazilian companies to Zambia’s burgeoning sectors in agribusiness, infrastructure, and trade logistics. 

The event, organized by ApexBrazil and Zambia’s designated investment promotion agency, will be held virtually and is expected to draw wide participation from Brazilian investors eyeing Southern Africa’s emerging markets.

The announcement follows a high-level Zambian delegation visit to ApexBrazil, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, where Zambia’s Ministers of Finance and Agriculture, along with senior Presidential advisors, laid out a strategic vision for long-term, mutually beneficial economic collaboration. 

Speaking in Brasília, Zambia’s Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, emphasized that the engagement with Brazil is not a one-off encounter.

“We are not here for one-time talks. Zambia is positioning itself as a long-term strategic partner for Brazil in Africa,” said Dr Musokotwane. “Despite global economic uncertainties, we are committed to creating a stable, investor-friendly environment that attracts Brazilian companies to Zambia.”

Zambia’s delegation presented investment-ready opportunities, particularly through the Lobito Economic Corridor, a transformational trade and transport network linking Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola’s Atlantic coast via the 1,300-km Benguela Railway. 

Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Mtolo, highlighted the country’s strong alignment with Brazil’s agricultural ecosystem.

“Zambia is essentially a mirror of Brazil in terms of climate, latitude, and potential,” Mtolo noted. “From maize to floriculture, the same crops thrive. What Brazil has accomplished in agribusiness is precisely what Zambia is now ready to achieve, with Brazilian expertise and partnership.”

Opportunities include investment in maize, wheat, cassava, soybeans, as well as processing, agri-tech, energy services, and logistics infrastructure. 

Ana Repezza, ApexBrazil’s Business Director, welcomed the initiative, noting it aligns with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s renewed emphasis on Africa in Brazil’s foreign policy.

“Brazil views Africa as a vital partner, not only because of our historical and cultural links, but also because we recognize Africa’s future as the fastest-growing region globally,” she said. “Zambia, with its strategic location and investor-friendly policies, is emerging as a regional anchor for that collaboration.” 

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has prioritized regional connectivity and private-sector growth, directing his administration to develop a business-friendly ecosystem along the Lobito Corridor. The corridor is backed by international financing partners and aims to catalyze investment in green energy, regional trade, and cross-border logistics.

The Zambian government has implemented institutional reforms to enhance the ease of doing business, control inflation, and stabilize macroeconomic fundamentals. With a projected GDP growth of 6.3% in 2025, a flexible exchange regime, and membership in regional blocs such as SADC and COMESA, Zambia offers a compelling case for investors seeking scalable entry points into African markets.

The upcoming symposium will guide Brazilian firms on navigating Zambia’s regulatory landscape, accessing financing mechanisms, building regional export and supply chain partnerships, and tapping into opportunities across agriculture, energy, and transport.

The Zambian delegation to Brazil included senior figures from the Presidential Delivery Unit, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, and Zambia’s diplomatic and technical corps, highlighting the government’s whole-of-system commitment to securing sustainable partnerships.

“This is the right time to form resilient partnerships that focus on technology transfer, investment, and mutual growth,” said ApexBrazil.

As preparations intensify for the October event, stakeholders from both countries are optimistic that this strategic partnership will mark a new era of South-South cooperation, unlocking shared prosperity across the Atlantic.