31 March – 1 April 2026 | Protea Hotel, Ndola, Zambia
7 - 8 April 2026 | Lusaka, Zambia
About the Event
The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI), in collaboration with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA), will convene two high-level consultative meetings to review and develop the Successor National Local Content Strategy (NLCS) for Zambia.
These meetings mark a critical milestone in Zambia’s industrialization agenda, following the expiry of the 2018–2022 NLCS. The process aims to develop a renewed strategy that strengthens the participation of local enterprises in key value chains, enhances competitiveness, promotes technology transfer, and advances inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
The meetings will launch a structured, participatory, Member State driven process to ensure that the successor NLCS reflects national priorities, stakeholder perspectives, and emerging economic realities.
Background
The National Local Content Strategy (2018–2022) was developed to:
- Promote increased utilization of local goods and services
- Strengthen linkages between foreign investors and domestic firms
- Enhance technology transfer and managerial skills
- Support MSMEs including through Supplier Development Programmes
- Strengthen local content regulations, including alignment with the Local Content Regulations 2025
With the expiry of the previous Strategy, the Government of Zambia is developing a successor NLCS to build on lessons learned and respond to new economic opportunities and challenges.
Focus Sectors
The successor NLCS will prioritize the following seven (7) subsectors:
- Agro processing
- Wood and Wood Products
- Textiles and Garments
- Leather
- Engineering
- Mineral Beneficiation (metallic and non-metallic)
- Pharmaceuticals
The review will also include an assessment of the legal and regulatory framework to ensure the new NLCS will deliver effective enforcement and implementation.
Objectives of the Consultative Meetings
Overall Objective
To initiate a national, multi-stakeholder dialogue that will inform the design of the successor NLCS, its implementation plan, and monitoring and evaluation framework.
Specific Objectives
- Review Zambia’s industrialization landscape across the seven priority subsectors
- Assess the implementation of the 2018–2022 NLCS
- Identify national challenges, opportunities, and priority areas
- Gather stakeholder perspectives to inform strategy development
- Establish preliminary strategic pillars and thematic areas
- Agree on a roadmap, responsibilities, and timelines for drafting and validation
Participants
The consultative meetings will bring together:
- Senior government officials (Industry, MSMEs, Planning, Trade)
- Private sector actors (Mining, Agro-business, Leather, Textiles, Pharmaceuticals, MSMEs)
- Academia and research institutions
- Development partners including United Nations Development Programme and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
- Organizations supporting local content and supplier development programmes
Contact Information
For Media inquiries:
Bedson Nyoni,
Senior Information Management Assistant,
ECA Southern Africa Office, Lusaka, Zambia.
Email:nyonib@un.org
Further information and queries on the meeting and other related matters should be addressed to:
Mundia Hangubo,
Programmes ManagementAssistant,
ECA Southern Africa Office,
Lusaka, Zambia.
Email:mundia.hangubo@un.org
Copied to
Talumba Chilipaine,
Economic Affairs Officer,
ECA Southern Africa Office,
Lusaka, Zambia.
Email: talumba.chilipaine@un.org
Olayinka Bandele,
Chief of Section, Inclusive Industrialization,
ECA Southern Africa Office,
Lusaka, Zambia.
Email: olayinka.bandele@un.org
Morgan Nyanga,
Trade Officer,
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCTI),
Lusaka, Zambia.
Email: Morgan.Nyanga@mcti.gov.zm