Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is actively calling on investors from the UAE and the broader Gulf region to join his nation’s transformative five-year economic roadmap, known as the "Grow Zambia Agenda." Following a successful diplomatic visit with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Hichilema emphasized that Zambia is looking for genuine financial partners to help develop its mining, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors. Highlighting the synergy between the two regions, he noted that while the UAE seeks essential materials for a post-oil future, Zambia holds the vital resources needed for these industries—including copper, cobalt, and gold—alongside vast, untapped agricultural potential.

To formalize this collaboration, the two nations are working toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which would grant Emirati businesses easier access to a massive market across Africa while providing Zambian producers a direct gateway to the Gulf. The momentum is already building, evidenced by over $2 billion in investment interest expressed through recent memorandums and a major $1.1 billion acquisition of Mopani Copper Mines by an Abu Dhabi-based firm earlier this year. Through these strategic partnerships, President Hichilema hopes to drive sustainable growth and modernize logistics, effectively positioning Zambia as a cornerstone of trade and industrial development in Southern Africa.