ZAMBIA’s Ambassador to Japan, His Excellency Dr. Tobias Mulimbika, has called on Japanese investors to seize opportunities in Zambia and support the Government’s Grow Zambia Agenda to accelerate economic growth, create jobs and promote value addition.
Speaking at a reception marking Zambia’s 62nd Independence Anniversary in Osaka, held under the theme “Zambia @62: Our Journey, Our Growth, Our Future,” Ambassador Mulimbika highlighted investment opportunities in mining and critical minerals, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and tourism.
He cited key milestones in Zambia-Japan cooperation, including collaboration with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) on mineral exploration, Zambia’s participation in TICAD 9 and Expo 2025 Osaka, and the Japan-Zambia Investment Agreement, which entered into force on 30th July, 2026.
The Ambassador urged Japanese companies to move beyond traditional development cooperation by investing in local industries, transferring technology, developing skills and partnering with Zambian businesses.
He also highlighted opportunities in energy development, regional transport corridors and tourism, as Zambia pursues targets of increasing power generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts and attracting five million international tourists.
Ambassador Mulimbika reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to deepening engagement with Japanese Government institutions, investors and development partners to translate the long-standing friendship between the two countries into tangible investments, jobs and shared prosperity.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Director-General of the African Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ambassador Misako Takahashi, said she hopes the Japan-Zambia Investment Agreement will significantly improve Zambia’s investment climate and revitalize economic relations between the two countries.
Ambassador Takahashi said the agreement, signed during President Hakainde Hichilema’s visit to Japan in February 2025, entered into force on 30th July 2026 and provides an important opportunity to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.
She described Zambia as an important partner that shares Japan’s fundamental values, including democracy and the rule of law, and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to encouraging and supporting investment by Japanese companies in Zambia.
Ambassador Takahashi highlighted Zambia’s potential in copper and other mineral resources, agriculture and tourism, noting that growing global demand for copper presents opportunities for deeper economic engagement.
She also underscored the importance of human resource development and youth exchanges in advancing sustainable development and strengthening bilateral relations. Under the ABE Initiative, 45 young Zambians have studied in Japan, while more than 5,000 Zambians have participated in JICA short-term training programmes. Additionally, 35 JICA volunteers are currently serving in Zambia, supporting areas including education and infectious disease control.
The Ambassador highlighted Japan’s new Africa Youth Program, launched following commitments made at TICAD 9 to expand human resource development and exchanges, particularly for young people and women. In August 2026, 25 students from Chasunta Secondary School visited Okinawa and Tokyo, while 18 Japanese university students travelled to Zambia in late September for educational and cultural exchanges.
Reflecting on recent high-level engagements, Ambassador Takahashi welcomed the visits to Japan by President Hichilema and Vice-President Mutale Nalumango, Zambia’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, and the April 2026 visit to Zambia by Japan’s Foreign Minister, Motegi – the first visit by a Japanese Foreign Minister to Zambia in 42 years.
She also congratulated President Hichilema on his re-election and expressed confidence that continued cooperation, investment and people-to-people exchanges would further strengthen the longstanding friendship between Zambia and Japan.
This is according to press statement issued Faith Nabeene Chilube, First Secretary – Press & Public Relations at Embassy of the Republic of Zambia, Tokyo, Japan.
(Mwebantu, Tuesday, 27th October, 2026)