Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema welcomed His Excellency Shakhbout Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to State House in Lusaka this afternoon for a significant bilateral engagement aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.
The meeting underscored the growing government-to-government partnership that continues to flourish between Zambia and the UAE. Anchored in shared goals of economic development and mutual prosperity, the discussions focused on deepening cooperation across several key sectors, including mining, energy, agriculture, and tourism.
President Hichilema described the engagement as “productive,” reaffirming Zambia’s commitment to strategic collaborations that translate into real economic benefits for its citizens. “Our partnership with the UAE continues to grow from strength to strength, and we are committed to ensuring that this collaboration leads to job creation, promotes entrepreneurship, and unlocks new business opportunities for our people,” said the President.
A notable highlight of the talks was the UAE’s support for capacity building through public service training programs. President Hichilema praised the initiative, which he said complements Zambia’s broader vision to transform its public service sector. “We highly commend the UAE’s commitment to human capital development. By offering training for our public servants, we are working together to build a service that is more efficient, responsive, and citizen-centered,” he added.
As Zambia looks to reposition itself as a regional hub for investment and innovation, such bilateral engagements are seen as crucial to unlocking economic potential and enhancing international cooperation. The continued collaboration with the UAE reflects a shared determination to build lasting partnerships that drive sustainable development for both nations.