Pretoria recently hosted the highly impactful Zambia-South Africa Trade & Investment Forum, a strategic high-level engagement that brought together senior government officials, diplomats, investors, development finance institutions, business leaders, and private sector stakeholders in a renewed effort to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and unlock new investment opportunities between the two nations.

Hosted by the Government of the Republic of South Africa through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in partnership with the Zambia High Commission in Pretoria, the forum represented far more than a conventional business gathering. It emerged as a powerful platform for economic diplomacy, regional collaboration, investment mobilisation, and industrial partnership-building at a time when African countries are increasingly prioritising intra-African trade and investment.

The event attracted over 350 delegates, including approximately 20 Zambian companies and institutions from both the public and private sectors, as well as around 100 South African companies, demonstrating the growing appetite for deeper regional economic engagement and cross-border investment collaboration.

Among the Zambian institutions represented were major entities such as ZANACO, ZESCO, Copperbelt Energy Corporation, NAPSA, the Zambezi River Authority, and the Agricultural and Commercial Show Society of Zambia. South African participation was equally significant, with the attendance of leading financial institutions including Nedbank, First National Bank (FNB), the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), alongside major mining, industrial, infrastructure, and advisory firms.

The strong presence of financial institutions, investment authorities, infrastructure specialists, and corporate stakeholders reflected the increasing recognition of Zambia as a strategic investment destination within Southern Africa.

High-Level Opening Sets the Tone for Regional Cooperation

The programme commenced with registration and networking engagements before officially being opened by the Programme Directors, Ambassador Anesh Maistry of South Africa and Mr Vincent Mupwaya of Zambia.

Their opening remarks established the broader significance of the forum within the context of regional integration, economic transformation, and Africa’s collective growth agenda.

The event then proceeded with remarks delivered by Mr Goso, Chief Director for West Africa at DIRCO, who underscored the importance of stronger African economic partnerships and reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to expanding economic diplomacy across the continent.

A key highlight of the opening session was the keynote remarks delivered by Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, Deputy Director-General: Africa Branch at DIRCO.

Speaking on behalf of the host government, Ambassador Seokolo reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to strengthening economic partnerships across Africa and highlighted the growing collaboration between governments, financial institutions, and the private sector in supporting businesses seeking to expand into regional markets.

His remarks reflected a broader continental shift toward stronger regional value chains, infrastructure integration, industrial cooperation, and coordinated investment strategies under the frameworks of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Zambia Signals Readiness for Strategic Partnerships

Speaking during the forum, Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Her Excellency Ms Grace Mutembo, emphasised Zambia’s readiness for strategic and mutually beneficial partnerships.

She noted that Zambia is not only open for business, but fully prepared to engage in meaningful collaborations capable of supporting sustainable economic growth, industrialisation, and regional integration.

Her remarks reinforced Zambia’s broader economic diplomacy agenda, which seeks to position the country as a competitive regional hub for investment, trade, manufacturing, energy, logistics, and infrastructure development.

The High Commissioner further highlighted the importance of platforms such as the Pretoria forum in facilitating direct engagement between governments, investors, and businesses capable of driving long-term economic cooperation.

Zambia Development Agency Highlights Investment Potential

One of the most anticipated sessions of the forum was the major investment presentation delivered by Mr Chimuka Nketani, Director of Investments at the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA).

His presentation outlined Zambia’s strong investment proposition, highlighting the country’s abundant natural resources, strategic geographical location, improving economic indicators, and ongoing policy reforms designed to create an enabling business environment.

Mr Nketani explained that Zambia continues to rank favourably as an investment destination due to its stable political environment, expanding infrastructure development, and commitment to industrial growth and private-sector participation.

The presentation also showcased investment opportunities across critical sectors including energy, mining, agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, tourism, and financial services — sectors that continue to attract increasing interest from regional and international investors.

Mining, Energy and Infrastructure Discussions Drive Engagement

The forum’s programme featured extensive sector-focused engagements designed to connect investors with real opportunities and strategic projects.

A major highlight was the mining sector presentation delivered by Dr Hapenga Kabeta, Permanent Secretary in Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.

Dr Kabeta outlined ongoing reforms within Zambia’s mining sector and stressed the importance of strengthening regional value chains, expanding mineral beneficiation, and building strategic partnerships capable of enhancing Zambia’s competitiveness within global mineral markets.

The discussions around mining naturally linked to broader conversations on energy generation, infrastructure development, and logistics connectivity — all of which remain essential to supporting industrial expansion across the region.

Energy-focused sessions explored opportunities linked to power generation, renewable energy investment, regional transmission infrastructure, and energy security.

Infrastructure and logistics discussions further highlighted Zambia’s strategic role as a regional transit and trade hub, particularly regarding rail development, transport corridors, and cross-border connectivity linking Southern and Central Africa.

These discussions attracted significant interest from South African infrastructure firms, logistics companies, financial institutions, and industrial stakeholders looking to expand regional partnerships.

Financial Institutions and Private Sector Stakeholders Play Key Role

The role of financial institutions in supporting economic growth and investment also featured prominently throughout the forum.

Among the presentations, Ms Mukwandi Chibesakunda, Chief Executive Officer of Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) Plc, highlighted the important role played by the financial sector in facilitating investment and expanding access to capital across key sectors of the economy.

Her presentation reflected the growing importance of banking institutions, pension funds, insurers, and development finance institutions in enabling infrastructure projects, industrial growth, and regional trade expansion.

The participation of institutions such as Nedbank, FNB, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa demonstrated the increasing interest of South African financial entities in supporting regional investment initiatives and cross-border economic development.

Interactive Panel Discussions Create Dynamic Engagement

One of the defining features of the forum was its strong emphasis on panel discussions and interactive engagements involving government representatives, investors, business leaders, infrastructure specialists, and financial experts.

Unlike traditional conference settings focused solely on formal presentations, the panel discussions encouraged dynamic conversations, practical engagement, and multi-perspective dialogue around investment opportunities and regional cooperation.

Participants were able to engage directly with experts, ask questions, exchange ideas, and explore collaborative solutions in real time.

This format created a more meaningful and solutions-driven environment while strengthening relationships between South African and Zambian stakeholders.

Building Momentum Towards the Invest in Zambia International Conference 2026

Importantly, the Pretoria forum also served as a strategic build-up toward the upcoming Invest in Zambia International Conference (IZIC) 2026, scheduled to take place in 2026.

The summit is expected to attract global investors, multinational companies, development finance institutions, policymakers, and economic stakeholders from across the world.

By convening stakeholders ahead of the July summit, the forum played a critical role in strengthening investor confidence, showcasing investment-ready opportunities, and initiating partnerships capable of translating into long-term investment commitments.

The event ultimately reinforced Zambia’s growing use of economic diplomacy as a mechanism for attracting investment, strengthening industrial development, and enhancing regional integration.

A Defining Moment for Regional Economic Cooperation

The Zambia-South Africa Trade & Investment Forum represented an important moment for regional economic collaboration and intra-African partnership-building.

At a time when African economies are increasingly seeking to strengthen regional value chains, expand industrial capacity, and deepen economic integration, the Pretoria forum demonstrated the value of coordinated engagement between governments, businesses, investors, and institutions.

The strong participation from both South African and Zambian stakeholders highlighted growing confidence in the future of bilateral economic relations and reaffirmed the importance of continued collaboration across strategic sectors.

As momentum now builds toward the Invest in Zambia International Conference in 2026, the Pretoria forum has already positioned itself as a meaningful catalyst for future investment, stronger partnerships, and sustainable economic growth across the region.