By Jane Chanda
Economist Kelvin Chisanga says Zambia and its regional partners must adopt growth-stimulating policies to drive real Growth Domestic Product (GDP) and enhance regional economic integration.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Revelation over the weekend, Chisanga said the region’s strong market potential could only be realised through strategic policy formulation, integration, and implementation that addressed key production growth fundamentals.
He pointed out the need for the government to anchor their economic strategies on primary sector input factors and related economic interests, particularly those that nurtured raw materials within the regional market.
“We need to focus on regional integration as a vital economic avenue, tapping into diverse trade and investment opportunities to promote a non-traditional export base that balances import cover across the region,” he said.
Chisanga urged policymakers to tailor specific policies for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector, recognising its critical role in diversifying economies away from traditional sectors like mining.
“For Zambia, shifting towards an agriculture-driven economy will require supportive policy frameworks and the right instruments to maximise the available resource base,” he said.
Chisanga also suggested that the Zambian government, through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), should consider establishing an “economic engine accelerator” in partnership with the private sector.
“This initiative would leverage bilateral partnerships to explore economic opportunities across sub-Saharan Africa, fostering industrialization policy exchanges, trade, and investment opportunities,” he said.
According to Chisanga, focusing on rapidly growing markets such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Angola, and Malawi, he believed that Zambia could facilitate high-impact trade-finance integrations.
“The key is to identify areas of comparative advantage and invest in those sectors to drive growth. For Zambia, agriculture and tourism offer huge potential for growth and job creation,” he said.
Chisanga also emphasised the importance of infrastructure development in supporting regional trade and investment.
“We need to invest in transport networks, energy, and communication infrastructure to facilitate the movement of goods and services across the region,” he said.
The economist said Zambia’s economic future depended on its ability to adapt and innovate.
