Promote:
Invest in Zambia
A short guide for companies expanding into Zambia: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Zambia at a glance
PopulationEstimate
21.9 million
Zambia's population was 21,913,874 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Zambia population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$28.9 billion
Zambia's GDP was US$28.88 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Zambia GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$1,318
Zambia's GDP per person was US$1,318 in current dollars in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Zambia GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
3.8%
Zambia's real GDP grew 3.8 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Zambia real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
6.1%
Annual inflation was 6.1 percent in September 2026, within the Bank of Zambia's 6 to 8 percent target band.
Source: Bank of Zambia, Monetary Policy Committee statement, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$1.29 billion
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$1,292.7 million in 2025, according to UNCTADstat.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment flows, Zambia (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Zambian kwacha (ZMW).
Source: Bank of Zambia, Zambanker journal, December 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The Zambia Development Agency licenses special economic zone developers and operators and registers investors under the 2022 Act; its one-stop shop coordinates four agencies.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Zambia, Secretariat report, August 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 19, 2025
Since 2017 a one-stop shop system has coordinated four agencies: PACRA, ZRA, NAPSA and CEEC; one-stop shops operate in Livingstone, Kitwe and Solwezi.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Zambia, Secretariat report, August 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 19, 2025
The Act excludes four kinds of industry: arms and military hardware, poisons and narcotics, currency and security documents, and products restricted by law; the regulator may still approve one.
Source: National Assembly of Zambia, investment act, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 10, 2022
ZDA lists seven functional special economic zones: five multi-facility economic zones and two industrial parks.
Source: Zambia Development Agency, special economic zones (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Zambia
- Clear the company name and register the company or a foreign company branch with the registry.Patents and Companies Registration AgencyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Zambia Development Agency, starting a business (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Register with the revenue authority for a taxpayer identification number, then register for VAT if your sales pass the threshold.Zambia Revenue AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Zambia Development Agency, starting a business (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Apply to ZDA for the license, permit or certificate of registration that opens the way to incentives; it lasts five years.Zambia Development AgencyValid for five yearsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: National Assembly of Zambia, investment act, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 10, 2022
- Obtain an excisable goods license from the revenue authority if you make or import excisable goods, and the health, fire and business permits ZDA's guide lists.Zambia Revenue AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Zambia Development Agency, starting a business (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more set-up steps
- Apply for an investor's permit for owners and work permits for foreign staff.Zambia Department of ImmigrationOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Zambia Department of Immigration, permit types (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Open a bank account after you have the taxpayer number, and settle domestic payments in kwacha under the Bank of Zambia rules.Bank of ZambiaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Bank of Zambia, Zambanker journal, December 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with ZRA. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
Company and business registry
PACRA
Patents and Companies Registration Agency
Clears company names and registers local companies, foreign company branches and business names.
Visit PACRA (opens in a new tab)Source: Zambia Development Agency, starting a business (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Immigration authority
Immigration Department
Zambia Department of Immigration
Issues the investor's permit, employment permits and other permits for foreign owners and their staff.
Visit Immigration Department (opens in a new tab)Source: Zambia Department of Immigration, permit types (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Citizen empowerment commission
CEEC
Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission
Funds and supports citizen-owned businesses, whose status sets the investment thresholds for incentives.
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
ZRA
Zambia Revenue Authority
Issues taxpayer numbers, clears exports through customs and registers companies that claim preferences.
Visit ZRA (opens in a new tab)Source: Zambia Revenue Authority, exportation of goods (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
National chamber of commerce
ZACCI
Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Represents businesses of all sectors in dialogue with government and runs local chambers in several towns.
Visit ZACCI (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Zambia, Secretariat report, August 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 19, 2025
- Get advice
Manufacturers association
ZAM
Zambia Association of Manufacturers
Represents manufacturers in policy dialogue and runs the Proudly Zambian campaign.
Visit ZAM (opens in a new tab)Source: Zambia Association of Manufacturers, home page, June 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 24, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
Domestic payments must be settled in kwacha from December 26, 2025, and the central bank tracks export proceeds through its Export Proceeds Tracking Framework.
What to do: Price domestic sales in kwacha, and receive export proceeds through a Zambian bank.
Source: Bank of Zambia, Zambanker journal, December 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 26, 2025
Reserved sectors
The Act excludes four industries, artisanal mining licenses are reserved for citizens, and timber processing is reserved for citizens, the WTO says.
What to do: Confirm with ZDA and the sector regulator that your activity is open to foreign investors.
Sources: National Assembly of Zambia, investment act, 2022 (opens in a new tab); WTO, Trade Policy Review of Zambia, Secretariat report, August 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 19, 2025
Incentive thresholds
Section 30 of the Act sets minimum investments for incentives, from US$50,000 for local investors to US$1,000,000 for other investors.
What to do: Confirm with ZDA which threshold and incentive apply to your project before you commit capital.
Source: National Assembly of Zambia, investment act, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Electricity
Load shedding reached 21 hours a day in September 2024, the WTO says, and the Bank of Zambia warned in September 2026 that expected El Niño conditions threaten electricity generation.
What to do: Ask the electricity utility about supply and allow for back-up power before you site a plant.
Sources: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Zambia, Secretariat report, August 2025 (opens in a new tab); Bank of Zambia, Monetary Policy Committee statement, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 30, 2026
Show 1 more
Public debt and arrears
Zambia defaulted in December 2020 and agreed rescheduling with official creditors in June 2023; talks with private creditors were pending, per the WTO's 2025 review.
What to do: Check payment terms and government arrears risk before you sell to public bodies.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Zambia, Secretariat report, August 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 19, 2025
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Zambia with other countriesSet Zambia beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Zambia project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Free to start. No card required.
Already have an account? Sign in
Promote:Zambia is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.