Michael Tome in Lusaka, Zambia

Agro-industrial consultancy firms are increasingly eyeing opportunities in Zambia’s expanding agricultural value chains, as demand rises for specialised services such as certification, industrial standards compliance and agricultural engineering solutions.

The interest was highlighted during a Services Business Mission to Zambia organised by ZimTrade, which brought together Zimbabwean service providers and potential Zambian partners in Lusaka to explore cross-border collaboration in agribusiness and related industries.

Industry participants say Zambia’s agricultural and industrial sectors are creating strong demand for technical services that support productivity, safety and international compliance standards.

Agrocert subsidiary ETILOP Business Solutions Managing Consultant Pauline Mutombeni said the mission revealed significant opportunities for consultancy services in food safety, quality management systems and occupational health and safety compliance.

She noted that while many Zambian industries are performing well, there is growing need for support in meeting international standards required for export competitiveness and operational efficiency.

“The Services Business Mission to Zambia has opened up new business opportunities for us as Zimbabwean consultants,” Mutombeni said, adding that several follow-up engagements are expected to establish long-term partnerships.

Consultancy firms involved in the mission say Zambia’s agricultural sector offers broad opportunities for standards advisory services, particularly as agribusinesses expand and integrate into regional and global supply chains.

Engineering and agricultural equipment suppliers also identified strong demand in the market. OMEC Engineering Technical Services Market Expansion and Business Development Director Itayi Kureya said his company observed growing interest in agricultural implements and infrastructure support solutions.

These include towable graders, steel structures, grading sheds and other mechanised equipment designed to support commercial farming operations and improve efficiency across value chains.

Kureya said several Zambian companies expressed interest in Zimbabwean engineering solutions, highlighting opportunities for deeper regional cooperation in agricultural mechanisation and infrastructure development.

“There is great potential in this market, especially in agribusiness services,” he said, encouraging Zimbabwean firms to explore opportunities in Zambia’s expanding agriculture sector.

The mission also included engagements with Saro Agri Industrial Limited, where senior general manager Milind Amin expressed interest in potential partnerships with Zimbabwean firms in areas such as farming services, industrial consultancy and agricultural equipment supply.

Amin said collaboration between Zambian and Zimbabwean companies could strengthen technical capacity and contribute to the growth of the regional agriculture sector.

The initiative forms part of Zimbabwe’s broader export diversification strategy aimed at expanding participation in regional trade in services and improving foreign currency earnings for local companies.

As agricultural value chains in Zambia continue to expand, demand for specialised consultancy, engineering and compliance services is expected to grow, creating new cross-border business opportunities within the Southern African region.