Zambia Expands Investment Outreach Through New China–SCO Trade Platforms
Zambia Deepens China Trade Ties as New Investment Platforms Open Access to SCO and Greater Bay Area Markets
Zambia has intensified efforts to strengthen investment and trade cooperation with China, unveiling new platforms aimed at connecting the country to investors across the Greater Bay Area and the wider Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) economic bloc.
The platforms were officially launched in Guangzhou by Zambian Ambassador to China Mr Ivan Zyuulu, who presided over the inauguration of the China–SCO Economic and Trade Exchange Centre and the Guangdong and Macao Development Platform.
The initiative follows a cooperation agreement signed in October 2025 between the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Development Committee of the China–SCO Economic and Trade Exchange Centre, aimed at strengthening structured engagement between Zambian projects and Chinese investors.
The newly launched platforms build on outcomes of the 2025 SCO Heads of State Summit in Tianjin and are designed to translate diplomatic relations into tangible commercial outcomes.
The Guangzhou-based centre will serve as a strategic hub for mobilising Chinese and SCO-region enterprises to explore investment and trade opportunities in Zambia, particularly in priority sectors such as mining, manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure.
Mr Wang Rui Cai, Director of the China–SCO Economic and Trade Exchange Centre, pledged institutional support for Zambia’s investment drive, including the provision of office space and professional services to facilitate the promotion and structuring of Zambian investment projects.
The support is expected to lower entry barriers for Chinese companies seeking opportunities in Zambia.
On the sidelines of the launch, Mr Zyuulu held talks with Mr Ma Wenfeng, Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Guangdong Province.
According to the Zambian Embassy, the ambassador reaffirmed Zambia’s strong interest in expanding cooperation with Guangdong Province in key areas including industrialisation, value addition, infrastructure development, and trade facilitation.
Mr Ma welcomed the deepening relationship, emphasising the importance of strengthening economic and trade ties, investment flows, industrial cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
The engagement comes as copper-rich Zambia adopts more flexible financial arrangements with China. The country recently began accepting the Chinese yuan for mining taxes and royalties from Chinese-owned firms, becoming the first African nation to do so. Officials say the move is intended to support the kwacha by reducing reliance on the US dollar.
