Lusaka: Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade of the UAE, met with President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia during an official visit to Lusaka, focusing on expanding bilateral economic engagement. Leading a high-level UAE business delegation as part of the UAE Trade and Investment Days, Dr. Al Zeyoudi engaged in discussions with senior Zambian officials to explore avenues for broadening trade cooperation and initiating new investment activities across key sectors.
According to Emirates News Agency, Dr. Al Zeyoudi’s discussions with Zambian ministers, including those from energy, finance, technology, agriculture, health, and commerce, aimed to deepen sectoral collaboration and strengthen long-term economic ties. A ministerial roundtable was held to facilitate trade, enhance supply-chain resilience, and encourage private-sector participation. Both sides discussed finalizing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to increase market access for goods and services and promote structured economic cooperation.
Non-oil trade between the UAE and Zambia reached US$3.4 billion in 2025, marking a 64.5% increase from the previous year and highlighting the depth of economic relations. Dr. Al Zeyoudi emphasized that Zambia is a significant economic partner for the UAE, with discussions centered on expanding trade volumes, fostering investment partnerships, and aligning economic priorities for sustainable growth.
The UAE delegation included representatives from various sectors such as agriculture, mining, renewable energy, logistics, aviation, healthcare, digital economy, and infrastructure, showcasing the growing commercial interest in Zambia’s market. This strong participation underscores the role of business-led dialogue in advancing bilateral ties.
The visit is part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to diversify global trade partnerships and engage with high-growth markets. Both nations highlighted the importance of structured economic dialogue and private-sector collaboration to sustain the positive trajectory of UAE-Zambia trade relations.
