Lobito Forest Pact in Sight

For Government, the focus is now on turning the proposed project into tangible economic benefits, particularly through job creation, local timber processing, sustainable forest management and greater participation of local communities in the forestry value chain.

Siame said finalising the agreement would strengthen Zambia’s forestry sector and contribute to the country’s broader Grow Zambia economic agenda.

“The finalization of this agreement will help to enhance the forest sector and stimulate economic growth along the Lobito Corridor,” he said.

He emphasised the need for a project design that responds to Zambia’s development priorities, attracts responsible private investment and establishes a practical framework for implementation.

World Bank Group Country Manager for Zambia Martine Valcin described the Copperbelt mission as fruitful, saying it provided an opportunity for the Bank and Government to engage directly with businesses, communities and other stakeholders.

Valcin said the engagements had helped the delegation gain a clearer understanding of the opportunities in the forestry sector and identify areas where Government and the World Bank could strengthen their cooperation.

World Bank Lead Natural Resources Management Specialist for Eastern and Southern Africa Laurent Debroux said Zambia had considerable potential to build a stronger forest economy, particularly through processing timber into higher-value products.

He said value addition presented an opportunity to create employment, strengthen local businesses and empower communities that depend on forestry-related activities.

Debroux also noted that some of the companies visited during the mission were already planning to expand their plantations and invest in processing facilities, describing the developments as encouraging signs of private-sector confidence in the industry.

World Bank Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist for Africa East and South Andrew Zakharrenka said the Bank’s team was scheduled to meet the Forestry Department the following week to review the findings of the Copperbelt mission and agree on the project design before the final agreement was concluded.

The meeting was also attended by Ministry of Green Economy and Environment Permanent Secretary Dr Dotty Chibamba, while the World Bank delegation was led by Valcin.

Siame said the LIFE Project was designed to establish a sustainable forest economy that goes beyond timber production by creating opportunities for local businesses, attracting investment and ensuring communities benefit from the sector’s growth.

He explained that the project would be implemented in phases, with private-sector participation at the centre of efforts to develop sustainable plantations, support small-scale growers, expand local processing and strengthen access to markets.

The initiative will also support improvements in forest management systems and create opportunities across different stages of the forestry value chain.

These include tree nurseries, plantation establishment, timber processing, furniture manufacturing and community-based enterprises such as beekeeping.

Siame said public and concessional financing would support policy reforms, institutional strengthening and shared infrastructure to help attract private capital into the sector.

The project also seeks to improve market access through the Lobito Corridor, providing a broader economic opportunity for Zambia’s forestry industry and businesses involved in the production and processing of timber.

Government is targeting 2027 for the start of plantation establishment, marking an important step towards translating the proposed LIFE Project into economic activity on the ground.

For communities along the corridor, the significance of the initiative lies not only in the expansion of plantations but also in the prospect of employment, business opportunities and greater participation in an industry where much of the economic value comes from processing and marketing finished products.

With the World Bank and Government now working towards agreeing on the project design, attention is shifting to finalising the framework that will determine how the forestry investment programme moves from planning to implementation.