Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga has launched the 14th edition of the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) Magazine and the 5th Proudly Zambian Campaign Catalogue, declaring that new policy reforms will significantly expand local participation in national value chains.
Mr Mulenga praised ZAM for hard work, dedication and leadership in promoting industry standards and supporting the country’s economic transformation agenda.
He highlighted two major policy interventions introduced this year namely Statutory Instrument No. 45 of 2025, which provides preferential treatment for local products in public procurement, and new local content regulations under the Geological and Minerals Development Act No. 2 of 2025, which compels mining companies to source more goods and services from Zambian suppliers.
“These reforms will ensure that all levels of Zambian enterprises, manufacturers, processors and service providers, take centre stage as contributors to national development,” Mr Mulenga said in Lusaka today.
The minister described the ZAM Magazine as a critical platform for knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and industry learning, and commended the Proudly Zambian Campaign Catalogue for serving as a strategic marketing tool linking local producers to public and private sector buyers, including regional markets.
Mr Mulenga announced that the Proudly Zambian Campaign has grown to 158 member companies and 635 certified products, up from 47 companies and 157 products in 2021.
“This progress reflects a national transformation in mindset and growing consumer confidence in our local products,” the minister said.
However, Mr Mulenga warned against the illegal use of the Proudly Zambian logo by uncertified businesses, saying the practice threatens the integrity of the campaign and risks misleading consumers.
He has since urged businesses seeking to join the programme to follow proper certification procedures.
The minister also called on consumers, industry players and government agencies to support local enterprises in order to sustain the momentum of industrial growth.
Speaking earlier, ZAM Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Muntanga Lindunda commended the country’s rising manufacturing capacity, describing the launch of the 5th Proudly Zambian Campaign Catalogue and the 14th edition of the ZAM Magazine as a reaffirmation of national resilience and industrial ambition.
Ms Lindunda said the publications demonstrate how far the local manufacturing sector has come, and how determined it is to expand its regional footprint.
“This is not simply a launch, it is a celebration of progress, resilience, and the unstoppable spirit of Zambian enterprise,” she said.
She credited recent gains in the manufacturing sector to strong collaboration between government, the industry and consumers.
The ZAM CEO has since called for continued consumer commitment to local products, saying every purchase of a Zambian-made item supports jobs, boosts national industry and enhances economic independence.
Meanwhile, ZAM Vice President-South, Fronscen Haloba, has urged government, industry and consumers to intensify support for locally produced goods because Zambia’s manufacturing future depends on a united commitment to building a strong domestic industrial base.
Ms Haloba said the two publications showcase the strength, diversity and rising competence of Zambia’s manufacturing ecosystem.
She further called for stronger enforcement of quality standards to ensure fair competition and protect consumers, as well as a stable policy environment that encourages investment and value addition.
