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The Director for Export Promotion at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), Dr Julius Nyalunga says that Zambia is still an ideal investment destination for South African businesses despite the country experiencing economic challenges. Dr Nyalunga was speaking at the conclusion of the three-day Outward Selling Mission to Zambia where the dti led a delegation of thirty-five businesspeople to explore business opportunities in the country.

According to Dr Nyalunga, Zambia still possessed characteristics that made it a viable investment target for local businesses.

“The country has the fastest growing economy in sub-Saharan Africa, is politically stable and it experienced an increase in income per capita. All these are the hallmarks of an attractive investment destination for our businesspeople,” said Nyalunga.

According to Nyalunga, the Outward Selling Mission had yielded notable successes.

“Our businesspeople got an opportunity to interact with the Zambian counterparts with whom they will further discuss business deals. They have been exposed to the benefit of learning about the Zambian environment and culture of doing business. They have also identified business leads and new market opportunities that they would need to pursue further,” said Nyalunga.

Nyalunga cautioned that leads secured during this mission will not automatically translate into business deals.

“The onus is on our businesspeople to ensure that they follow up on leads that have been secured, that they nurture relations that have been established and that they have follow-up meetings with their counterparts which would hopefully translate into positive  business transactions,” added Nyalunga.

Dr Nyalunga explained that it was critical for the South African businesspeople to demonstrate commitment to investing in Zambia as they are in direct competition with businesspeople from other nations.

The thirty-five member business delegation which comprised of businesspeople from agro-processing, built environment professionals, capital equipment, electro-technical, infrastructure, metals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment sectors returned to South Africa yesterday..

The three-day mission consisted of a business seminar, business-to-business meetings, round-table discussions and site visits to Zambian companies.  


Issued by The Department of Trade and Industry