The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) announced that the country recorded USD 1.69 billion in actualised investments during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, representing solid progress toward the USD 2.4 billion target for the period.
ZDA Director General Albert Halwampa stated that this performance reflects sustained investor confidence in the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema and the broader Zambian economy.
Mr. Halwampa noted that the reported figure is likely conservative, as the Agency was unable to obtain data from all targeted companies during the period under review.
He explained that the strong performance was largely driven by manufacturing and energy, which together accounted for over 70% of total investments, underscoring their strategic importance to Zambia’s economic transformation and industrialisation agenda.
The Director General said 9,576 jobs were actualised against a target of 28,050 during the quarter, with job creation largely driven by industrial and agriculture-related sectors.
“This distribution confirms the critical role of manufacturing and agro-based industries in employment creation,” said Mr. Halwampa.
He further highlighted that, on a cumulative basis, Zambia has recorded USD 16.4 billion in actualised investments and 109,488 jobs created from 2021 to Q1 2026, against total committed investments of USD 92.01 billion.
He attributed this performance to the focused and strategic leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, who has actively positioned Zambia as a competitive destination for investment by promoting the country’s untapped opportunities globally.
“The positive investor response has resulted in both local and international investors continuing to invest and expand their operations in Zambia,” he said.
Mr. Halwampa emphasised that the Agency attributes the USD 16.4 billion in actualised investments recorded over the past four years to strong leadership, policy consistency, and improving macroeconomic stability.
He reaffirmed the ZDA’s commitment to broadening investment across all provinces, enhancing job creation, and driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth throughout the country.
