Zambia woos Japanese investors for critical minerals, energy, TAZARA corridor

Zambia has invited Japanese companies to invest in critical minerals and mineral beneficiation, renewable energy, manufacturing and regional connectivity corridors as it seeks to translate longstanding diplomatic ties into investment, jobs and value addition.

The investment pitch was made during the inaugural Zambia-Japan Policy Dialogue held in Tokyo on Wednesday, marking the establishment of a platform for regular political, economic and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

The meeting brought together a Zambian delegation led by Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation Etambuyu Anamela Gundersen and a Japanese delegation led by Ambassador Misako Takahashi, Director-General and Assistant Minister in the African Affairs Department.

The consultations followed the establishment of the Policy Dialogue Mechanism during President Hakainde Hichilema’s working visit to Japan in February 2025, which also resulted in the Zambia-Japan Bilateral Investment Treaty entering into force on July 30, 2026.

“In line with Economic Diplomacy, one of the two pillars of Zambia’s foreign policy, the Zambian delegation emphasised the importance of leveraging the longstanding bilateral relationship to advance investment, trade, technology transfer, value addition and job creation, consistent with the Grow Zambia Agenda,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation stated.