The country ranks behind Botswana and Morocco on the continent. Globally, Zambia has moved up to 25th place on the Investment Attractiveness Index from 28th in the previous survey.
Zambia’s score on the index has risen to 72.84, indicating growing investor confidence in the country’s mineral potential and policy environment.
The Fraser Institute survey assessed 68 jurisdictions worldwide and involved 256 mining executives, representing companies with combined exploration spending of about 4.2 billion US dollars.
The Investment Attractiveness Index combines mineral potential with policy perception factors such as regulatory stability, taxation, legal systems, infrastructure, political stability, labour frameworks and administrative certainty.
The survey also shows that Zambia has improved on the Policy Perception Index, rising to 30th globally with a score of 74.96, compared to 38th position in the previous survey.
However, the report indicates that further improvements are needed in areas including trade-related processes, security perceptions and labour regulatory clarity.
Under the Best Practices Mineral Potential Index, Zambia scored 71.43, ranking 20th globally and sixth in Africa. The ranking reflects the competitiveness of the country’s copper, cobalt, gold and emerging critical mineral resources.
Meanwhile, Situmbeko Musokotwane said the improved ranking reflects the government’s reform agenda under the leadership of Hakainde Hichilema.
Musokotwane said the results are a product of efforts to restore macroeconomic stability, strengthen fiscal discipline and promote private sector-led growth.
He added that government has worked to align policies across institutions, restore budget credibility, improve regulatory clarity and strengthen engagement with investors.
According to the minister, Zambia’s policy direction has attracted about 12 billion US dollars in mining investments since 2021.
We have heard these stories. Go and tell these stories to the people in Chiwempala, new town,John Laing, Misisis, Mchini, Dambwa, Kingovwa,Kamuchanga, libuyu, and Senama and go and see if what you are saying makes sense to them. You have said billions of investments have been poured into the mines, but there is no impact on the ground. Even the ‘reduced inflation’ has zero impact on the consumers pocket. And some lost soul was even saying our only challenge is load shedding…where?