Zâmbia: Investir na Zâmbia
According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023, FDI flows into Zambia rose to USD 116 million in 2022, compared to a negative inflow of USD 352 million one year earlier but still lower than the 2018-20 average (USD 504.3 million). At the end of the same period, the total stock of FDI was estimated at USD 15.2 billion, around 53.5% of the country’s GDP. FDI remains dominated by large mining investments from Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, China, and the United States, in addition to large infrastructure and other projects performed almost entirely by Chinese companies. Zambia's infrastructure, whose poor quality is a barrier to investment, should be strengthened by investments in the road network, railways, and the construction of power plants. In 2021, a USD 11 billion standard gauge railway project was announced in Zambia, involving U.S. capital, which would expand essential transport links with the outside world. Zambia was the first African participant in the Scaling Solar Programme, spearheaded by the World Bank. This initiative offers various guarantees and technical assistance and focuses on establishing sizable solar power facilities through competitive auctions.
As the country largely depends on the mining sector, the government is seeking to diversify the economy and to become less dependent on copper. To this extent, several tax incentives are granted to foreign investors (for more info, consult the Zambia Development Agency website). Moreover, the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) unveiled its strategic plan for 2022-2026 on October 20th, 2023, with the goal of stimulating economic growth by attracting a total of USD 36 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Local Direct Investment (LDI). This plan is designed to align the agency with the economic transformation objectives outlined in the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), which serves as a cornerstone for achieving the Vision 2030. This vision aims to elevate Zambia into an industrialized, upper-middle-income nation by 2030. Generally, Zambian law does not restrict foreign investors in any sector of the economy, although there are some limitations (especially regarding land ownership, as there is no private land in the country, and specific sectors of national interest). However, the increase in taxes on mining companies, uncertainties concerning the tax framework (a revision of the mining code is underway), the high level of interest rates, and the disputed judicial liquidation of the Konkola mine could create an economic climate unfavorable to foreign investors in the years to come (however, in late 2023, Zambia's largest copper mine narrowly avoided liquidation and instead received a vital cash infusion of USD 1 billion from its parent company, resolving a prolonged legal dispute). The regulatory environment does not favor entrepreneurial activity, the requirements for commercial licenses being long and costly, and the application of regulations not being uniform. In addition, the protection of property rights and the enforcement of contracts are still weak by international standards. Zambia ranks 118th among the 132 economies on the Global Innovation Index 2023 and 152nd out of 184 countries on the latest Index of Economic Freedom.
Foreign Direct Investment | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
FDI Inward Flow (million USD) | 245 | -352 | 116 |
FDI Stock (million USD) | 15,138 | 15,120 | 15,236 |
Number of Greenfield Investments* | 12 | 11 | 9 |
Value of Greenfield Investments (million USD) | 887 | 804 | 1,698 |
Source: UNCTAD, Latest available data
Note: * Greenfield Investments are a form of Foreign Direct Investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up.
Country Comparison For the Protection of Investors | Zambia | Sub-Saharan Africa | Estados Unidos | Alemanha |
Index of Transaction Transparency* | 4.0 | 5.5 | 7.0 | 5.0 |
Index of Manager’s Responsibility** | 6.0 | 3.5 | 9.0 | 5.0 |
Index of Shareholders’ Power*** | 7.0 | 5.5 | 9.0 | 5.0 |
Source: Doing Business, Latest available data
Note: *The Greater the Index, the More Transparent the Conditions of Transactions. **The Greater the Index, the More the Manager is Personally Responsible. *** The Greater the Index, the Easier it Will Be For Shareholders to Take Legal Action.
Investors who invest at least USD250,000 in any sector or product not provided for as a priority sector or product, is entitled to non-fiscal incentives such as investment guarantees and protection against state nationalization and protection against non-commercial risks (Zambia is a signatory of Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency).
For more info, consult the Investment Guide to Zambia by the ZDA.
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Últimas atualizações em May 2024