Government set to build three new industrial yards in Southern, Central, Muchinga Provinces

The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development has announced that plans were nearing completion for the construction of three Industrial Yards in Southern, Central, and Muchinga Provinces.

Ministry Principal Public Relations Officer, Virginia Chilongo, said the initiative aims to enhance competitiveness among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and strengthen cooperatives.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Chilongo said the project aligned with government’s broader agenda to spur economic growth, create employment, and uplift businesses in underserved regions.

The new Industrial Yards will support various value chains, including energy, agribusiness, timber/wood, metals/minerals, and innovation.

She stated that this was part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry to foster industrial development, job creation, and economic empowerment nationwide.

Chilongo explained that each yard was expected to host about 30 light manufacturing workshops for SMEs and cooperatives.

“The cost of constructing the three Industrial Yards is estimated at US$10.5 million, with works expected to begin in mid-2026 and take about 18 months to complete,” Chilongo stated.

She added that the project would be financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under Phase II of the Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Project Supporting Women and Youth (SDEP-SWY).

Chilongo further noted that with AfDB support, the Ministry had already constructed and operationalized eight Industrial Yards in Lusaka, Copperbelt, North-Western, Western, Luapula, Northern, and Eastern Provinces.

“The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development remains committed to fostering job and wealth creation across the country through sustainable, resilient, and prosperous SMEs and cooperatives,” she said.

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