Banks
Ø
Structure of the
banking industry as at end 2005: The Bank of Zambia and 13
commercial banks. 8 foreign owned, 4 owned by local private
investors, 1 by the Zambian Government, and 1 jointly owned by the
Zambian Government and the Indian Government.
Non-Banks
Ø
Non-bank Financial
Institutions as at end 2005: 9 leasing companies, 3 building
societies, 1 development bank, 1 savings and credit bank, 32 bureaux
de change and 3 micro-finance institutions. Regulated and supervised
by the Bank of Zambia under the Banking and Financial Services Act
of 2000
Capital
Market
Ø
Stock
exchnage: Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE)
INVESTMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Ø
Zambia is richly
endowed with natural and agro-mineral resource base, which present
significant investment potential and opportunities. Vast expanses of
rich undeveloped land and natural habitant with free-flowing and
easily accessible water provide extensive potential for tourism
investment and agriculture production. All this is complimented
with a ready supply of quality labor force at competitive rates and
a stable political environment.
Agriculture
Sector
Ø
Enormous potential to
become a major grower and exporter of agricultural and horticultural
produce. An abundance of quality land, water and ideal climate all
suited to an amazing range of agricultural products. Only 15% of the
60 million hectares of arable land is under cultivation.
Manufacturing
Sector
Ø
Opportunities for
further diversification exist, particularly in agro-processing, wood
and leather products. Profitable avenues are also abounding in food
processing and textile production and mineral products. To help
realize this potential Government established a Duty Drawback Scheme
(DDS) under which manufacturers producing export goods are entitled
to claim a refund for duty paid on raw materials used in the
production process. The Government is in the process of implementing
a new initiative called the Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ)
which will focus on special industrial zones for both export and
domestic oriented industries.
Tourism
Sector
Ø
Untapped tourism
opportunities exist in all the 19 National Parks and 34 game
management areas as well as the 23 million hectares devoted to the
conservation of an amazing variety of animals. Major attractions
include the Victoria Falls (one of the seven natural wonders of the
world), the Kariba Lake (the largest man-made lake in the world),
the Kalambo falls (one of the deepest falls in the world), Lake
Tanganyika (the deepest lake in Africa). Specific areas of investment
in this sector include:
§
Game
ranching;
§
Provision of
accommodation (i.e. high quality five and four star hotels, Lodges
and Camp sites near the popular tourist
areas);
§
Transport service -
Investment potential exists in air charters in form of helicopters
and/or small planes to service game areas;
§
Adventure holiday
packages;
§
Organised tours;
§
Out door sports
facilities (golf courses and stadia); and
§
Zambia’s cultural
heritage.
Mining Sector
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Zambia’s mineral wealth
remains substantial. Quite apart from the traditional mining
activities in copper and cobalt the list of investment opportunities
in this sector include:
§
Precious metal-gold;
silver; selenium;
§
The platinoid group -
iron, tin, nickel and manganese;
§
Agro-minerals-rock
phosphate and igneous phosphate suitable for conversion to
fertilizer, peat, limestone;
§
Reclaiming of copper
from slug tailing dumps;
§
Gemstones-emerald,
amethyst, aquamarine, tourmaline; and
§
Other deposits-talc,
fluorpar, graphite, barytes and clays.
Ø
The 1995 Mines and
Minerals Act provide exemption from import duty and VAT on all
machinery and equipment, including specialised motor vehicles
required for prospecting or mining activities.
Other
sectors
Ø
Investment
opportunities exist in other sectors including in the Energy sector
such as the development of Itezhi-Tezhi Hydro Electric Project;
Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro-Electric Project; Zambia-Tanzania
Interconnector; and Zambia-Namibia Interconnector.
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