ITALY
ZAMBIA-ITALY KEY FIGURES
| 2023 Bilateral Trade | Lobito Corridor Commitment | Priority Country Status | Student Scholarships 2024/2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR 77 million | EUR 300 million (~USD 320 million) | Since June 2024 | 63 |
Italy has committed approximately EUR 300 million, or about USD 320 million, to the development of the railway branch of the Lobito Corridor, as Zambia has been included in the list of priority countries for Italian Development Cooperation since June 2024.
Total bilateral trade between Italy and Zambia amounted to EUR 77 million in 2023, with Italian companies including Enel Green Power in energy, SARI, Team Engineering and Technital in consultancy, and Parmalat/Lactalis already operating in the country.
Trade, Investment and the Lobito Corridor
Total value of trade between Italy and Zambia amounted to EUR 77 million in 2023[1]. Italian companies currently operating in Zambia include Enel Green Power in the energy sector, consultancy firms SARI, Team Engineering and Technital, Parmalat/Lactalis, and GIGIBONTA Franchising, a social enterprise[1]. The Italian government has committed to allocating approximately EUR 300 million, or about USD 320 million, for the development of the railway branch of the Lobito Corridor[1].
Development Cooperation and Diplomatic Ties
As of June 2024, Zambia has been included in the list of priority countries for Italian Development Cooperation, with priority areas comprising agro-food and environmental protection among others[1]. Zambia is among the countries receiving scholarships from the Italian government, with 63 monthly grants awarded to Zambian students for the 2024/2025 academic year[1]. President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella undertook a state visit to Zambia on July 6 to 8, 2022, and President Hakainde Hichilema paid an official visit to Rome on November 21, 2023, meeting President Mattarella and attending a business forum organised by Confindustria’s Assafrica[1].
Investment Opportunities
Italy’s roughly USD 320 million commitment to the Lobito Corridor railway branch, alongside its designation of Zambia as a priority development cooperation country focused on agro-food and environmental protection, marks out transport infrastructure and agro-processing as the sectors where Italian public and private capital are most directly engaged, complementing the Zambia-Lobito Railway Project detailed on the dedicated Transport page[1].
Last Update: September 2026
