Musokotwane Pins Growth on Export Expansion

Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane says economic growth over the next five years will be driven by increased exports in line with the Grow Zambia Agenda. Speaking during the 2026 Combined Second and Third Quarter National Development Coordinating…

Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane says economic growth over the next five years will be driven by increased exports in line with the Grow Zambia Agenda.

Speaking during the 2026 Combined Second and Third Quarter National Development Coordinating Committee Meeting in Lusaka, Dr Musokotwane said increased export earnings would make it easier to reduce the cost of living for Zambians.

Dr Musokotwane also encouraged public and private sector players to attract more foreign direct investment to support economic expansion.

He said the country’s strong Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and declining inflation should translate into tangible benefits for citizens across the country.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Economic Management and Finance Mulele Mulele said Central Government’s external debt stock had declined by the end of December 2025.

Mr Mulele attributed the reduction largely to the Government’s Liability Management Operation undertaken during the second quarter of 2026, which included the partial repurchase of Eurobond obligations through the African Development Bank (AfDB).

At the same event, Presidential Delivery Unit Head Kusobile Kamwambi said the unit had already set annual targets to support the implementation of the Grow Zambia Agenda.

Ms Kamwambi said the targets focus on key sectors, including agriculture and food security, energy and infrastructure, the digital economy and innovation, mining and natural resources, among others.