The US$300 million Golden Baobab Multi Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) in Kafue is nearing completion, marking a significant milestone in Zambia’s efforts to accelerate industrialisation and attract large scale investment.

Phase One of the project is in its final stages, with key infrastructure including internal roads, electricity networks and factory buildings almost ready to receive investors. Once operational, the zone is expected to become one of Zambia’s newest manufacturing and industrial centres, supporting the country’s broader economic diversification agenda.

Approved by Cabinet in 2024, the Kafue MFEZ is expected to attract more than US$300 million in investment and generate over 2,000 direct jobs during its first five years of operation. The development has been designed to host a diverse range of industries, including mining equipment assembly, commercial vehicle manufacturing, steel processing, food processing, renewable energy production and electric vehicle assembly.

By clustering industries within a dedicated economic zone, the project aims to improve operational efficiency while encouraging investment in value addition and export oriented manufacturing.

One of the project’s strategic advantages is its proximity to Zambia’s mining sector and major transport corridors. Planned assembly plants for heavy duty mining trucks and earth moving equipment are expected to support the country’s growing mining industry by reducing reliance on imported machinery while creating opportunities for local suppliers and engineering firms. The inclusion of solar energy generation and electric vehicle assembly also reflects Zambia’s ambition to participate in emerging green industrial value chains.

The Kafue MFEZ forms part of Zambia’s wider network of Multi Facility Economic Zones, which have become central to the government’s investment promotion strategy. These zones offer investors serviced industrial land, supporting infrastructure and investment incentives designed to stimulate manufacturing, processing and export growth. Previous MFEZ developments have attracted billions of dollars in investment and created thousands of jobs, demonstrating the growing importance of industrial parks in Zambia’s economic development strategy.

Beyond attracting foreign investment, the project is expected to stimulate local enterprise development by creating opportunities for Zambian businesses to participate in manufacturing supply chains. Increased industrial activity is also likely to benefit sectors such as logistics, construction, engineering, financial services and technical training, generating wider economic spillover effects for surrounding communities.

As Zambia continues to pursue economic diversification and industrial transformation, the completion of the Kafue Multi Facility Economic Zone represents more than another infrastructure project.

It signals a shift towards building domestic manufacturing capacity, creating quality employment and positioning the country as a regional production hub capable of serving markets across Southern and Central Africa.