Hichilema commissions Zambia’s first glucose and starch plant, commends Trade Kings

President Hakainde Hichilema has commissioned Zambia’s first Glucose and Starch Plant under Kingsworth Group Limited, a subsidiary of Trade Kings Group, constructed at a total cost of US$110 million.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony held on Tuesday at the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ), Hichilema described the project as a landmark achievement in Zambia’s industrialization and economic transformation journey.

He said the plant marked a major step toward value addition, job creation, and reducing the country’s dependence on imports.

Hichilema said the facility demonstrated Zambia’s shift from consumption-driven to a production and export-oriented economy, adding that such investments were key to sustainable growth.

“This is a national milestone in our quest for industrialization and value addition to our economic growth. We are matching the talk with action, walking the talk. The significance of this plant cannot be overemphasized,” he said.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining a stable and attractive investment climate, noting that government continued to work closely with private enterprises to stabilize inflation, sustain a predictable exchange rate, and lower the cost of doing business.

The President emphasized the importance of removing bureaucratic barriers that slowed down investment, saying long-term employment growth must come from a thriving private sector.

“The more than US$30 million in annual import savings and up to US$150 million in export potential from this investment will help stabilize the exchange rate and strengthen our economy,” he added.

Hichilema commended Trade Kings Group for its continued confidence in the Zambian economy, noting that the company’s total investment in the industrial sector now exceeded US$1 billion, supporting over 17,500 jobs nationwide.

“17,500 jobs is a remarkable achievement. Even single mining companies do not employ such numbers. The project will have a positive impact due to the government’s strong collaboration with the private sector,” Hichilema said.

He further praised the Group’s expansion projects, including Dairy Gold Limited’s US$30 million dairy processing plant, adding to the US$50 million already invested in the dairy sector.

The Head of State also announced plans to commission the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) plant in Kafue later this week, describing it as another milestone in the country’s industrial resurgence.

Meanwhile, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Chipoka Mulenga described the event as another great day for Zambia, saying the country’s industrial sector was being revived under the New Dawn administration.

“A few years ago, industries were closing and the economy was declining. Today, we are witnessing the birth of new industries and jobs. Zambia has now established the third-largest glucose and starch plant in the region,” Mulenga said.

Earlier, Trade Kings Group Executive Director for Corporate Affairs, Phil Daka, hailed the new Kingsworth Glucose and Starch (KGL) plant as a defining milestone in Zambia’s pursuit of economic self-reliance.

Daka said the project exemplified the success of public-private collaboration, crediting President Hichilema’s leadership and enabling policies.

“Today we celebrate not just a facility, but an idea whose time has come. This US$110 million investment, US$60 million completed under phase one and US$50 million for phase two, positions Zambia as the third producer of glucose and starch in Africa, after Egypt and South Africa.

“It will create over 1,000 direct jobs and source 126,000 tonnes of maize annually from local farmers,” he said.

The plant will produce starch, glucose, maltodextrin, and animal feed by-products essential for the food, beverage, and manufacturing industries, while boosting foreign exchange earnings and strengthening Zambia’s agricultural value chain.

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