By Derrick Silimina

The Invest Capital Africa Zambia InvestFest 2026 has officially kicked off, transforming the tranquil outskirts of Lusaka into a high-stakes arena for capital, innovation and deal-making.

The two days festival being held from May 6 and 7, 2026 at the Ciêla Resort and Spa in Lusaka under the theme of “Unlocking Next-Gen Growth,” has drawn a formidable crowd of venture capitalists, institutional investors and home-grown entrepreneurs, all looking to stake their claim in Zambia’s rapidly diversifying economy.

“I am particularly pleased that British International Investment (BII) is joining as co-host this year, a tangible sign of their confidence in Zambia as a priority investment market,” said British High Commissioner to Zambia Rebecca Terzeon during the event.

Terzeon outlined that ICA has built something of real value, a credible space where ambition meets capital, and where serious investors can connect with investable Zambian businesses.

She noted that UK has supported the ICA’s work for a number of years adding that

BII is the UK’s development finance institution owned by the UK Government and plays a vital role in its commitment to sustainable development across Africa.

“Just last month in London, BII launched its new five-year strategy, which explicitly names Zambia as a priority frontier market for the period ahead underlining long-term confidence in Zambia’s direction and investment potential.”

Speaking at the same event, European Union Ambassador to Zambia Karolina Stasiak emphasized the importance of private sector investment for sustainable development in Zambia highlighting the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.

“Zambia’s stability and democratic values are key attractions for investors and our successes included training 100,000 small-scale farmers in climate-smart agriculture, creating 3,000 jobs, and paying out €40 million to farmers,” Stasiak stated.

She further noted that the EU also supports green tech initiatives and market access for SMEs, with plans to expand these efforts.

In a meantime, Impact Capital Africa – Zambia Lead Jeffrey Scheidegger disclosed that since the first ICA Zambia event in 2018, over 225 businesses have been supported and catalysed more than $200 million in investment into SMEs.

“These outcomes speak to the collective impact we can achieve when we align purpose with action. We recognise the time, energy, and thought you have invested to ensure this is a relevant, insightful, and action-oriented event. Together, we are building a vibrant, resilient ecosystem and in 2026, we are proud to bring even more voices to the table, deepen meaningful connections, and unlock new opportunities for Zambia’s growing businesses,” Scheidegger said.