Zambia

Amatheon Agri chose Zambia as its first investment destination in 2012. Zambia is strategically located in Southern Africa – sharing borders with eight countries – and the farm site is well located in close proximity to Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, as well as the Copperbelt area. Zambia encompasses more than 750,000km² of land yet has a population of only 14 million, thus relatively low population density. Only 3% of Zambia’s arable land is irrigated while 40% of the water resources in southern Africa pass through the country – pointing to untapped irrigation potential. A steadily growing population – as well as steadily improving living standards – favorably enhances Zambia’s macro-economy. The country is politically stable and the creation of the Zambian Development Agency in 2006 was an important step towards further promoting investments, centralizing incentive schemes and aftercare services for investors. Being a member of the Southern African Development Community Free Trade Area (SADC-FTA), as well as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Zambia enjoys access to the largest regional economic grouping in Africa, comprising approximately 400 million people. Regional infrastructural projects strategically position the country as a land-linked transit hub to neighboring countries.