By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –

THE Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) says Zambia is the best investment destination in the region in terms of ease of doing business.
In a statement in Lusaka yesterday, ZDA acting director general Henry Sakala said it was easy to do business in Zambia compared to other countries in Africa.
He said, with a Gross Domestic Growth (GDP) of six percent, Zambia had excellent economic policies supporting business which includes the ZDA Act.
The Act facilitates Zambia’s economic development by promoting investment and competitiveness of businesses and promoting exports from the country.
“We also have the Public Private Partnership (PPP) and Privatisation programme that allows foreign investors to partner with local entrepreneurs on various projects” he said.
Mr Sakala said ZDA facilitates a One Stop Shop for business and company registration within 24 hours allowing the private sector to settle quickly and start doing business in the country.
“The country has been ranked among the 10 most improved economies in the Ease of Doing Business in Sub Saharan Africa by the World Bank,” Sakala said.
He said Zambia has enjoyed 50 years of political stability and abundant natural resources creating an enabling environment for investment making the country outstanding.
“Zambia is a jewel that all the investors out there need to discover because of the best investment conditions and incentives that it offers to investors,” he said.
Mr Sakala said Zambia was a business hub, land linked by road, rail and air, which connect the country to a vast market that includes the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the European Union (EU) markets in addition to the local market.
“In addition, the country has about 68 per cent of young people which creates potential for growth and abundant human resource” he said.