By Angela Moonga
Ministry of Finance permanent secretary for planning and administration Prudence Kaoma says Finland’s (EURO) €500,000 contribution through the World Food Programme towards Zambia’s School Feeding Programme is supporting improved nutrition for more than 34,000 learners, while promoting climate-resilient agriculture.
”We value this intervention because investment in children’s nutrition and education is an investment in Zambia’s future and the results are there for all to see,” Kaoma said when outgoing Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Saana Halinen paid a farewell courtesy call on her at the Ministry.
The two officials reaffirmed their commitment to deepen Zambia and Finland’s longstanding relationship, increasingly moving beyond traditional development cooperation towards trade, investment, innovation, technology, skills development and sustainable economic opportunities.
Zambia-Finland relations date back to Zambia’s independence era and have expanded from forestry and natural-resource management into governance, private-sector development, innovation, technology, skills, trade and investment.
”We particularly appreciate Finland’s continued confidence in Zambia as a stable, reliable, and forward-looking partner,” Kaoma said, adding that, “we encourage Finnish businesses to increasingly view Zambia not only as a development partner, but also as an investment destination and strategic economic partner.”
She commended Finland’s support through the Accelerated Growth for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Programme, which strengthened MSMEs to expand, create employment and contribute to Government revenue, alongside the European Union Twinning Instrument supporting the Anti-Corruption Commission and Office of the Auditor General.
”As Zambia transitions toward increased commercial and investment-based cooperation, we see considerable scope for building upon the foundation that our two countries have established,” Kaoma said.
Innovation and entrepreneurship remain another major frontier. The Lusaka Slush’D initiative connected Zambian startups with investors and development partners.
In the process, Aurora Gems subsequently secured US$23,000 from the Zambia Business Angel Network. The initiative also helped inspire subsequent innovation platforms, while more than 17 youth innovators and entrepreneurs have been recognized and approximately 100 startups supported by ecosystem stakeholders.
Finland has also contributed expertise towards Zambia’s first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, while cooperation involving Aalto University, Maria 01, Nokia, Omnia and Airtel supported entrepreneurship training for more than 100 Zambian students. The Cooperation has extended to critical minerals, responsible mining, geological information and beneficiation.
”Zambia is advancing its digital transformation and is determined not to be left behind in the transition toward artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies,” Kaoma said.
Looking ahead, Zambia sees opportunities for Finnish investment in renewable energy, agriculture, forestry, ICT, education, mining and environmental technologies, including opportunities arising from the Lobito Corridor. Zambia is also exploring co-financing and FINNFUND investment aligned with Vision 2030 and national development priorities.
And Ambassador Halinen said relations had “changed for the better” and increasingly become a genuine partnership focused on private-sector development, business, investment and trade. She noted that Zambian enterprises supported through the SME programme have continued to expand and are increasingly employing more people.
On investment matters, she said FINNFUND currently has two direct investments in Zambia, involving Yalelo and Cavendish University, with considerable interest in renewable energy.
”Finnfund has plans and is examining the opportunities available in Zambia very closely,” Ambassador said, adding that Finland remained open to discussing concrete blended-finance proposals. She also highlighted the rapidly developing water cooperation, including groundwater mapping and water management following Zambia’s historic drought.
Ambassador Halinen was pleased to indicate that high-level engagements between the two friendly countries have accelerated over the last four years. Before her tenure, eight (8) years had passed without any Finnish Minister visiting Zambia. During her over four years, Zambia has received two Finnish Ministers, a Deputy Minister with a business delegation, two Parliamentary delegations and the Deputy Mayor of Tampere with business representatives. This, she said, demonstrated Zambia’s attractiveness.
As Zambia progresses in the Ninth National Development Plan period, Kaoma said the focus would increasingly be on “accelerating economic growth, supporting businesses, creating employment, and mobilizing financing through innovative and sustainable models.”
The next chapter, she observed, will increasingly be concentrated on mobilizing capital, enterprise, technology and knowledge, with the anticipated success measured by investments realized, businesses expanded, skills transferred, jobs created and opportunities improved for citizens.
”I am proud of the very positive evolution of relations between Finland and Zambia over the last four years,” Ambassador Halinen concluded. “Our relationship has become broader, more commercially oriented, and increasingly founded upon an equal partnership.”
