Bilateral relations (Italia and Zambia)
Italy and Zambia enjoy excellent bilateral relations, as evidenced by the ongoing cooperation in the economic and cultural sectors. There exists a relatively large and well-integrated community of Italians (as of February 2024, 618 fellow nationals resided in the country, according to consular records). As of June 2024, Zambia has been included in the list of priority countries for the Italian Development Cooperation. The priority areas for Italian financial aid will comprise agro-food and environmental protection among others.
In 2023, total value of trade between Italy and Zambia amounted to €77 million.
Italian companies currently operating in Zambia are Enel Green Power in the energy sector; consultancy firms SARI, Team Engineering and Technital and Parmalat/Lactalis; GIGIBONTÀ Franchising, a social enterprise.
The already excellent prospects for companies of Italians who wish to invest in the country will be made even brighter by the Italian government’s commitment to allocating Euro 300 (USD 320 million approximately) for the development of the railway branch of the Lobito Corridor.
Pillars of Italo-Zambian cultural relations are the Italian School of Lusaka “Scuola Edmondo De Amicis” (founded in the ‘70s and attended by more than 400 students yearly) and the Zambian – Italian Cultural Center (ZICC). The latter, established in 2019, hosts theatrical, musical and art performances and exhibitions. Additionally, a local committee of the Dante Alighieri Society has been present in Lusaka since June 2019.
Zambia is among the countries receiving scholarships from the Italian government; in particular, 63 monthly grants have been awarded to Zambian students for the 2024/2025 academic year.
The President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella was in Zambia for a state visit on July 6-8, 2022, boosting bilateral relations. In return, President Hakainde Hichilema paid an official visit to Rome on November 21, 2023. On this occasion he held meetings with President Mattarella and attended a very vibrant business forum organised by Confindustria’s Assafrica. The visit of the Director General for Cooperation Stefano Gatti in July 2024, to announce the re-launching of Italian bilateral cooperation further cemented the ties between the two countries.