The Zambia Investment Deal Room (ZIDR) continues to gain traction, with 404 Fund Seekers and 52 Funders now registered on the digital investment matchmaking platform. Of the projects submitted, 54 are investment-ready, 19 are already in talks with potential financiers, and three have achieved partial financial close.
The figures point to increased activity on the platform, which was established to connect Zambian businesses and project developers seeking financing with local and international investors.
Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Director General Albert Halwampa said the growing participation demonstrates ZIDR’s potential to improve access to finance and strengthen Zambia’s investment ecosystem.
An initiative of President Hakainde Hichilema, ZIDR provides a centralized marketplace where entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), project developers, and businesses can seek equity or debt financing from a wide range of potential investors.
“ZIDR was established to accelerate financial close and project implementation by reducing the transaction costs associated with identifying credible, investment-ready projects and suitable financiers,” said Mr. Halwampa.
Through technology, the platform provides greater visibility for bankable projects, improves transparency, and reduces the time and cost associated with sourcing investment partners.
Mr. Halwampa explained that Fund Seekers and Funders can seamlessly register on the platform, after which investment proposals are screened and assessed before being matched with potential funders based on factors including sector and investment ticket size.
He added that ZDA facilitates engagements between project owners and potential investors as discussions and negotiations progress towards financial closure.
“The 18 projects currently in discussion with potential funders, with non-disclosure agreements already signed, demonstrate that ZIDR is moving beyond project visibility towards facilitating actual transactions,” Mr. Halwampa explained.
The current project pipeline is concentrated in agriculture, energy, manufacturing, ICT and mining, reflecting investment opportunities across some of Zambia’s priority productive sectors.
Mr. Halwampa encouraged more businesses, project promoters, investors and financiers to join the Zambia Investment Deal Room by onboarding through https://zidr.zda.org.zm/#/.
ZIDR forms part of the Government’s broader digital transformation agenda to strengthen investment facilitation, expand access to finance, and support private sector-led economic growth.
The platform was developed by ZDA in collaboration with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI), and the Smart Zambia Institute under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema.
