Government says it is committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Ethiopia in the green economy sector, with a particular focus on expanding the honey industry as a key driver of rural livelihoods, environmental conservation, and economic diversification.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) honey value chain study visit delegation, whose mission is to foster experience sharing and collaboration between the Zambian and Ethiopian honey value chains, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Ranford Simumbwe, emphasised the importance of such engagements in advancing South-South cooperation for sustainable development.
Mr Simumbwe noted that the government greatly values the long-standing partnership between Zambia and Ethiopia, particularly in areas of mutual interest such as green enterprise development.
“This engagement presents an opportunity to deepen collaboration in forestry and sustainable agricultural value chains, particularly the honey sector, which offers strong potential for inclusive green growth,” he said.
Mr Simumbwe said Zambia’s honey industry is one of the country’s fastest-growing green enterprises, currently producing approximately 2,500 metric tonnes annually, far below its estimated potential of 20,000 tonnes.
He said the sector supports more than 50,000 smallholder beekeepers, largely operating in the Miombo woodlands, which cover about 60 percent of Zambia’s land area.
He pointed out that the honey value chain offers triple benefits namely rural income, biodiversity conservation, and economic diversification.
Mr Simumbwe added that currently, Zambia has 15 major honey processors, with growing opportunities for value addition and exports.
He underscored Zambia’s strategic investment models which include US$23 million worth of out-grower schemes linking traditional beekeepers to formal markets, forest-based beekeeping in local concessions, and queen rearing programmes to boost colony health and productivity.
He said Zambia is seeking technical collaboration with Ethiopia in areas such as bee genetics, disease control, export certification, and apiary management.
The Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment further said the government was also offering incentives such as fiscal rebates on processing equipment and is developing certification and traceability systems to meet European Union (EU) and regional market standards.
Meanwhile Zambia’s Acting Ambassador to Ethiopia, Tom Michelo, described the UNIDO study visit as a key step in strengthening the two countries’ collaboration on shared environmental and economic goals.
Mr Michelo highlighted Ethiopia’s interest in Zambia’s policy frameworks, cooperative development, quality assurance, biodiversity conservation, and product diversification.
He also recognised Ethiopia’s achievements that include the Bounty of the Basket programme, which he said produced over 326,000 metric tonnes of honey in 2024/25, and the Green Legacy Initiative, with over 40 billion trees planted since 2018.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian delegation leader, Girma Mulugeta Tulu, noted the mutual interests in sustainable and forest-based enterprises, particularly in the honey value chain.
Mr Tulu said it is important to support smallholder farmers, noting that green enterprises like beekeeping can enhance incomes, nutrition, and export opportunities.
“Ethiopia sees Zambia as a strategic partner in expanding green exports across domestic and international markets,” Mr Tulu said.
He explained that market access, fair trade, infrastructure development, green financing and joint research and training are the key areas in which Zambia-Ethiopia can collaborate further.
Mr Tulu also called for continued dialogue and open exchanges in research, technology, and business development.
The UNIDO honey value chain study visit is a South-South knowledge exchange initiative aimed at enhancing collaboration in sustainable beekeeping and honey production.
It follows a recent visit by a Zambian delegation to Ethiopia to study its Digital ID system, which led to a Memorandum of Understanding to support Zambia’s implementation.
