Signing and Exchange of Notes on Grant Aid to the Republic of Zambia -Economic and Social Development Programme (Railway Track Maintenance Equipment)-
2026/10/30
On October 22, in Lusaka, the capital of the Republic of Zambia, the signing and exchange of notes took place between H.E. Mr. MIKAMI Akiteru, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Zambia, and Hon. Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, Minister of Finance and National Planning of the Republic of Zambia, concerning a grant aid project valued at up to 999 million yen for the "Economic and Social Development Programme" (Railway Track Maintenance Equipment).
Zambia is endowed with critical mineral resources such as copper and cobalt, with these mineral resources accounting for approximately 70% of its exports. For this landlocked country, the development of transportation infrastructure such as railways is essential for economic development; however, the railways, which serve as a major transportation route, face operational constraints due to the deterioration of lines, making the securing of stable cargo transportation a challenge.
This cooperation aims to secure stable cargo transportation by providing track maintenance equipment to the Zambia Railways Limited, thereby facilitating track inspection and maintenance to prevent accidents before they occur, as well as enabling early recovery in the event of an accident on the lines operated, maintained, and managed by the corporation.
At the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) held in Yokohama in August 2025, Japan announced the launch of the region-wide co-creation for common agenda initiative titled “Strengthening the Global Supply Chain through Nacala Corridor Development”. This cooperation actualizes that initiative.
(Note) The Nacala Corridor is an international corridor located in southeastern Africa that connects the landlocked countries of Zambia and Malawi to the Indian Ocean via the Port of Nacala in Mozambique. It also carries the distribution of Zambia's resources and other goods within and outside the region.
Zambia is endowed with critical mineral resources such as copper and cobalt, with these mineral resources accounting for approximately 70% of its exports. For this landlocked country, the development of transportation infrastructure such as railways is essential for economic development; however, the railways, which serve as a major transportation route, face operational constraints due to the deterioration of lines, making the securing of stable cargo transportation a challenge.
This cooperation aims to secure stable cargo transportation by providing track maintenance equipment to the Zambia Railways Limited, thereby facilitating track inspection and maintenance to prevent accidents before they occur, as well as enabling early recovery in the event of an accident on the lines operated, maintained, and managed by the corporation.
At the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) held in Yokohama in August 2025, Japan announced the launch of the region-wide co-creation for common agenda initiative titled “Strengthening the Global Supply Chain through Nacala Corridor Development”. This cooperation actualizes that initiative.
(Note) The Nacala Corridor is an international corridor located in southeastern Africa that connects the landlocked countries of Zambia and Malawi to the Indian Ocean via the Port of Nacala in Mozambique. It also carries the distribution of Zambia's resources and other goods within and outside the region.