Ambassador Lubaya: AfCFTA, IATF opening doors for Zambian businesses in North Africa

Zambia’s Ambassador to Egypt and Algeria, Maj. Gen. Topply Lubaya (Rtd), has hailed the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) as a gateway for Zambian companies to expand into new markets across the continent, particularly in North Africa.

In an interview with Zambia Monitor in Algiers, Ambassador Lubaya noted that since Zambia signed onto the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2018, interest from North African countries in trading and investing with Zambia has been steadily increasing.

“These trade fairs have opened doors for Zambians to enter markets within Africa, which is the main objective of the intra-African trade agreement. We have seen a lot of interest from the northern part of Africa in doing business with Southern Africa — buying copper, investing in mining, and partnering in agriculture,” he said.

Read more: AfCFTA chief, Mene, urges faster integration as intra-African trade hits $220 billion

He highlighted Egypt as an example of how modern technologies can transform agricultural production even in areas with limited rainfall.

“In Egypt, even without much rain, they are self-sufficient in agriculture by using modern technologies such as precision irrigation. These are lessons we can adapt in Zambia to strengthen our own food systems,” he said.

The envoy added that North African businesses have already been exploring partnerships with Zambian companies, citing the Zambia Invest Conference held in July as an example where Egyptian and North African delegates expressed strong interest.

“From the time we signed on in 2018, the level of interest has been growing. At the Zambia Invest Conference, a number of Egyptians attended, and other North African companies were eager to engage with Zambian firms. Even at this current event, we expect to make a real difference,” Ambassador Lubaya noted.

He emphasized that the integration process under AfCFTA represents a timely opportunity for African countries to strengthen ties, boost intra-African trade, and increase competitiveness on the global stage.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.