• Zambia’s 2022 trade mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo will see the country harness export opportunities.
• Last year’s trade mission generated leads worth US$43 million and orders amounting to US$20 million.
• Out of the US$20 million orders generated, more than US$6 million worth of transactions have been actualized to date

Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) in collaboration with Embassy of Finland has flagged off Zambia’s 2022 trade mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) worth K1 million, which will see the country harness export opportunities and scaling up trade with one of the strategic markets.
Speaking during a media briefing, Agency Director of Policy and Planning Innocent Melu, reveals that last year’s trade mission generated leads worth US$43 million and orders amounting to US$20 million.
Mr. Melu added that out of the US$20 million orders generated, more than US$6 million worth of transactions have been actualized to date, through exports to the DRC.
“DRC is the largest market for the Zambia’s Non-Traditional Exports. For Example in 2021, exports to the DRC amounted to 1.1 billion US Dollars, accounting for 41 percent of the total value of the Non Traditional Exports and an increase of 22 percent compared to 898.8 Million US dollars that was recorded in the previous year, “he said.
Mr. Melu revealed that the ultimate goal of the mission is to increase trade from Zambia into Congo DR in the long term.
“The specific objectives of the mission are to introduce more Zambian entrepreneurs to the Congolese business environment, conduct business to business meetings between Zambian and Congolese businesses and Promote Zambian products in the Congolese market,” he added.
He also stated that Zambian entrepreneurs will generate export deals and create market linkages with their Congolese counterparts.
He further said during this year’s trade mission, 50 Zambian companies from various sectors will participate in business to business meetings with buyers from DRC through a well -coordinated match making process.
Speaking at the same event, Embassy of Finland in Lusaka, Deputy Head of Mission Jan Koivu has pledged support for the growth of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia.
“Our aim is to see Zambian businesses grow into viable businesses and increase the country’s revenue base through exports and trade, “he said.