Reported by: The Agency Media.
Date: 25th March, 2025.
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A high-level Zambian delegation has concluded a series of productive engagements with key development partners in Riyadh, reaffirming the country’s commitment to fast-tracking critical infrastructure and capacity-building projects aimed at fostering sustainable national development.
The delegation, led by Permanent Secretary for Special Duties, Professor Lackson Kasonka, included senior officials from the Ministries of Finance, Health, and the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Riyadh. Their discussions with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) focused on strengthening cooperation in infrastructure development and human capital investment — pillars identified as essential to Zambia’s growth trajectory.
At the center of the discussions were two flagship infrastructure projects: the Kalabo-Sikongo Road and the rehabilitation of the Tapo-Kalabo Road. Both BADEA and the Zambian delegation underscored the importance of expediting these projects, recognizing their strategic role in improving connectivity, trade, and economic integration in Zambia’s western corridor.
Healthcare infrastructure also featured prominently on the agenda. The parties reviewed progress on BADEA-supported cancer centers, with special focus on the timely completion of the Ndola Cancer Centre and preparatory steps for launching the Livingstone facility. These projects are viewed as critical investments in strengthening Zambia’s health sector and improving access to specialized healthcare services.
Discussions extended to BADEA’s Capacity Building Grant for Zambian civil servants. Both sides agreed on the need for structured collaboration to ensure that this program, implemented through BADEA’s Technical Assistance Unit, translates into tangible skills enhancement and institutional strengthening within Zambia’s public sector.
In a separate meeting with DAR International, a leading engineering consultancy firm and principal consultant for the construction of the King Salman Hospital in Lusaka, the delegation explored ways to deepen engagement and foster greater collaboration with local Zambian engineering consultancies. The 800-bed facility, funded by the Saudi Fund for Development, is a transformative project expected to significantly bolster Zambia’s healthcare capacity.
The stakeholders resolved to enhance coordination between the Zambian government, DAR International, the contractor, and financiers to ensure the timely completion and commissioning of the hospital by October 2025.
These high-level engagements reflect Zambia’s unwavering commitment to cultivating strategic international partnerships that advance infrastructure, healthcare, and human capital development — all aligned with President Hakainde Hichilema’s vision of transforming Zambia into a resilient, prosperous, and inclusive economy.
The Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Riyadh, which facilitated these engagements, emphasized that such partnerships are pivotal in accelerating national priorities, delivering improved public services, and fostering economic growth for the benefit of all Zambians.
The Agency.