His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia, welcomed His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, at the presidential office in the Zambian capital, Lusaka.
During this meeting, Minister Al Zeyoudi conveyed the warm regards of the UAE leadership to President Hichilema and expressed wishes for continued prosperity and growth for the Zambian government and its people.
This meeting occurred as part of a formal visit by Minister Al Zeyoudi to Zambia, coinciding with the Emirati Days of Trade and Investment, where he led a delegation of Emirati officials and business leaders aimed at enhancing commercial and investment relations between the two nations. The discussion was informed by their flourishing non-oil trade, projected to reach $3.4 billion by 2025, marking a significant increase of 64.5% compared to 2024 figures.
Minister Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi stated, “Zambia represents a key economic partner for the UAE in Africa. Our discussions focused on stimulating trade exchange, strengthening investment partnerships, and aligning our shared economic priorities to support sustainable growth in both friendly nations.”
He emphasized that the UAE’s commitment to enhancing its commercial and investment ties with Zambia stems from the country’s consistent approach to fostering developmental partnerships with African nations for mutual benefit and shared economic growth.
Minister Al Zeyoudi and his accompanying delegation held a series of meetings with several senior Zambian officials, including the Minister of Energy, Makuzu Chikoti; the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane; the Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati; the Minister of Agriculture, Ruben Matulo Very; the Minister of Trade and Industry, Chibuka Mulenga; and the Minister of Health, Dr. Elijah Gulakai Mushima. These discussions focused on expanding commercial cooperation and enhancing investment opportunities across priority sectors.
Roundtable Discussion
The Minister also participated in a roundtable meeting that included members of the Emirati delegation and senior Zambian officials, aimed at deepening cooperation between the private sectors and business communities of both sides to foster long-term economic ties. This extensive meeting served as a platform to discuss expanding cooperation in key sectors, establishing actionable pathways to enhance commercial and investment links, facilitating trade, and supporting private sector participation.
Both parties exchanged insights and ideas on creating new mechanisms to bolster joint efforts in advancing future cooperation between their countries in the realms of trade and investment.
The Emirati delegation comprised representatives from essential economic sectors such as agriculture, mining, renewable energy, logistics, aviation, healthcare, digital economy, and infrastructure, reflecting the growing commercial interest in the Zambian market and aligning with Zambia’s developmental priorities.