03.01.26. Lusaka, Zambia. The Agency
President Hakainde Hichilema today officially opened the 2026 Continental Energy and Infrastructure Investment Forum at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, urging African nations and global investors to shift focus from ideas to execution in driving sustainable development.
In his keynote address, President Hichilema noted that Africa’s greatest challenge is not a lack of innovation, but the persistent implementation gap, compounded by the high cost of capital and negative risk profiling of African markets. He stressed that unlocking the continent’s potential requires stronger alignment between policy frameworks, financial capital, risk mitigation mechanisms and project preparation.
The President highlighted Zambia’s progress in advancing funded energy and critical infrastructure projects, attributing the momentum to reforms aimed at policy consistency, transparency and effective execution. He said Zambia’s experience demonstrates that with the right governance environment, Africa can deliver bankable projects that attract long-term investment and accelerate economic transformation.
The Forum brings together policymakers, financiers, developers and development partners from across the continent and beyond to mobilize capital for transformative energy and infrastructure projects critical to Africa’s growth agenda.
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