Five Zambian small and medium enterprises are currently in Japan for a high-level business mission under the Joint Empowerment Programme (JEP), a strategic initiative between the Government of Zambia and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The visit, which runs from May 9 to 17, 2025, is aimed at building global partnerships, enhancing value addition, and fostering innovation among Zambian SMEs.
Led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Mrs. Subeta Mutelo, the delegation includes top-performing enterprises from Lusaka, the Copperbelt, and Eastern Province. The five businesses were selected from a pool of over 500 applicants after a national pitch competition held in February. Each was awarded $20,000 in equipment and invited to Japan as part of their prize.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Zambian Embassy in Tokyo, Mrs. Mutelo noted the importance of the programme in promoting cross-border collaboration and technology exchange between Zambian and Japanese SMEs. She credited the initiative with helping local businesses scale up their production and align with President Hakainde Hichilema’s vision of an export-oriented economy.
According to Mrs. Mutelo, the businesses selected had previously undergone operational training using the Kaizen methodology—a Japanese system of continuous improvement—under JEP’s 2024 cycle, which engaged 30 SMEs across Zambia. The current mission marks the next phase in strengthening their global competitiveness.
The programme, valued at ZMW 7.5 million, is jointly funded by JICA, which contributes ZMW 7 million, and the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, with a ZMW 500,000 input. Target sectors include food processing, textiles, leather goods, metal fabrication, circular economy, and wood-based products.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Tobias Mulimbika, praised the collaboration, calling it a clear example of the government’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs. He noted that Japan’s interest in Zambian SMEs is growing, with Kaizen showing tangible results in operational efficiency and market readiness.
The mission also includes meetings with Japanese enterprises, government agencies, and private sector leaders, aimed at creating sustainable partnerships that outlast the one-year lifespan of the current JEP cycle.
