Country Info: Zambia
Economic Background
Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-12 more than 6% per year. Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly increased copper mining output and profitability to spur economic growth. Copper output has increased steadily since 2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign investment.
In 2005, Zambia qualified for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative, consisting of approximately US$6 billion in debt relief.
Poverty remains a significant problem in Zambia, despite a stronger economy.
Zambia's dependency on copper makes it vulnerable to depressed commodity prices, but record high copper prices and a bumper maize crop in 2010 helped Zambia rebound quickly from the world economic slowdown that began in 2008.
Zambia has made some strides to improve the ease of doing business. A high birth rate, relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, and market distorting agricultural policies have meant that Zambia's economic growth has not dramatically decreased the stubbornly high poverty rate. (Source: World Factbook, 2013)
Selection of document downloads
Zambia - National AGOA Strategy 2018-2025
This AGOA Response Strategy and Work Plan for Zambia has been prepared to assist policy makers and the private sector to take advantage of opportunities offered by the AGOA facility, while consolidating export capacities at the regional level.
Zambia - National AGOA Strategy
The team identified four areas for consideration that would assist Zambia in implementing the AGOA strategy. Governance: Zambia would benefit from establishing an AGOA Steering Committee consisting of key stakeholders from specific private sector organisations, industry associations, and government agencies. Education and Outreach: Zambia should promote opportunities for educating businesses about AGOA. With that intent, a...
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Zambia: AGOA strategy development initiative completed
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US urges Zambia to diversify
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Zambia to boost AGOA with strategy
Zambia has developed a strategy to help local exporters increase penetration of the United States of America market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The National Response Strategy which has cost US$100,000 will be implemented to address the difficulties that Zambian companies faced in accessing the US market in the last 15 years of utilising the...