Zambia Makes Investment Case for Soybean Growth Corridor at AFSF 2026
““These priority investment areas have been primed to deliver economic growth, job creation and build economic resilience,” Dr. Max Chombe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock said
Zambia participated at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2026 in Kigali.
Kigali, Rwanda – Zambia has presented an ambitious investment proposition aimed at unlocking increased private-sector investment across the country’s agrifood sector, with particular focus on developing a competitive and integrated soybean value chain.
The investment case was presented at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2026 in Kigali, where Zambia highlighted opportunities spanning agricultural production, mechanisation, irrigation, processing, storage, logistics and regional trade.
Opening the session, Dr. Max Chombe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and Government Delegation Lead, positioned agriculture within Zambia’s broader Presidential Delivery Priorities and emphasised the Government’s ambition to attract investment capable of accelerating economic growth, creating jobs and strengthening economic resilience.
“These priority investment areas have been primed to deliver economic growth, job creation and build economic resilience,” Dr. Chombe said.
Zambia is targeting annual soybean production of 3 million tonnes as part of its broader agricultural transformation agenda. The country is also pursuing ambitious production and export targets across other strategic sectors and commodities, including maize, wheat, sugar, beef, energy, tourism and copper.
The soybean investment proposition, however, extends beyond increasing primary production. Zambia is seeking investment across the value chain, including mechanisation and irrigation, input financing, processing, storage and aggregation, logistics, and access to domestic and regional markets.
“We need to invest in Africa’s agri-food system that is nourishing nations, growing jobs and building resilience,” Dr. Chombe said.
The proposition positions increased soybean production as the foundation for a wider commercial ecosystem capable of supporting agro-processing, strengthening regional trade, creating employment and attracting long-term private capital.
Through the Soybean Growth Corridor, Zambia is ultimately seeking to move beyond simply producing more soybeans towards building an integrated, competitive and investable soybean economy.
