Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has disclosed that the country has recorded US$14.71 billion worth of actualized investments over the last four years.
Speaking during the end of year media briefing in Lusaka, ZDA Director General, Albert Halwampa stated that this is from committed investments of US$89.31 billion, recorded during the period 2021 to date.
Mr. Halwampa disclosed that the US$14.71 billion was actualized based on responses from 779 companies out of a total of 2,065 firms that were contacted.
“I wish to emphasize that the US$14.71 billion worth of investments is not conclusive, as it only represents 779 companies that were able to confirm their level of investment actualization out of over 2,065 companies registered during the period under review,” Mr. Halwampa said.
He explained that the manufacturing sector recorded the highest actualized investments worth US$5.54 billion, representing 37.67%, followed by mining at US$5.07 billion or 34.45%, Transport with US$1.53 billion or 10.38% and Services with US$926.67 million, indicating 6.3%.
Mr. Halwampa added that other sectors included Agriculture, with actualized investments of US$614.72 million, representing 4.18%, Energy, US$345.05 million or 2.35%, ICT – US$299.22 million, 2.03%, tourism, US$180.68 million, 1.23%.
“Other sectors, including Construction, Real Estate, and Health combined, recorded US$208.81 million, representing 1.42%,” he added.
He further revealed that Lusaka Province recorded the highest actualized investments with US$7.29 billion, representing 49.57%, North-Western Province, US$3.19 billion or 21.66%, Copperbelt Province, US$2.92 billion 19.85%, other provinces combined, US$1.31 billion, 8.92%.
“A total of 91,522 jobs were actualized against the committed 614,486 jobs from the 779 companies that responded,” Mr. Halwampa stated.
Mr. Halwampa further disclosed that with regards to actualized jobs, the manufacturing sector recorded 29,537 jobs representing 32.3%, seconded by Mining with 21,003, representing 22.9%, which Agriculture was third with 14,232, indicating 15.6%.
“Transport – 11,388 (12.4%), Energy – 6,026 (6.6%), Services – 4,275 (4.7%), other sectors, including Construction, Tourism, Real Estate, ICT, and Health combined, accounted for 5,061 jobs (4.68%),” he said.
The ZDA Director General, attributed the increased investments in Zambia to robust and consistent policies, stable macroeconomic and fiscal policy fundamentals.
“These key drivers of investment in Zambia have all contributed to the actualization of US$14.71 billion recorded over the last four years,” he stated.
