Zambia’s $1 Billion Diaspora Vision Unveiled at GEC 2025


July 15, 2025

At the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC 2025), Freud Musanu, co-founder of the Zambia Diaspora Chamber of Commerce (ZDCC), made a landmark contribution by unveiling the organization’s bold “$1 Billion Vision by 2030,” a transformative strategy to mobilize diaspora-driven investment into Zambia.

A long-anticipated diplomatic milestone was achieved when Musanu held a strategic meeting with H.E. Dr. Chibamba F. Kanyama, Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States.

Describing it as “the longest-awaited meeting,” Musanu presented Ambassador Kanyama with a Certificate of Recognition, the official IBEx 2025 Hybrid Conference Communiqué, and an IBEx 2026 T-shirt—symbolic tokens of appreciation for the Ambassador’s dedication to uniting the diaspora and championing investment in Zambia.

The $1 Billion Vision, spearheaded by ZDCC in collaboration with strategic advisor Byron Whetstone, is designed to position Zambia as a hub for diaspora-led growth across key sectors such as agriculture, mining, energy, infrastructure, and tourism. 

The initiative has been officially communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, SME Development, and the Office of the President.

GEC 2025, which attracted participants from over 200 countries, provided an unparalleled platform for ZDCC to showcase its leadership capabilities. Beyond representation, Musanu played an active role in the event’s organization, handling critical logistical and operational phases that culminated in the grand finale. 

This proved ZDCC’s capacity to not only engage with global ecosystems but also help coordinate high-impact events.

A defining moment of the Congress was the formal submission of the IBEx 2025 Communiqué to top Zambian government offices, establishing a policy bridge between diaspora advocacy and national planning.

 The foundation has also been laid for IBEx 2026, set to take place in Kansas City during the FIFA World Cup—a strategic confluence of business and sports diplomacy designed to maximize international visibility and investor traction.

Further solidifying his credibility, Musanu presented credentials including the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (Gold) from U.S. President Joe Biden to Ambassador Kanyama, reinforcing his position as a globally recognized and trusted diaspora leader.

Key success pillars that emerged from GEC 2025 include formal diplomatic recognition, operational excellence, bold vision-setting, direct policy engagement, and personal integrity—each reinforcing the legitimacy and scalability of ZDCC’s mission.

Going forward, ZDCC aims to deepen its impact by tracking return-on-investment metrics such as investors mobilized, jobs created, and agreements signed. 

A sector-by-sector breakdown of the $1B vision will enhance focus and transparency, while institutionalizing diaspora engagement through the creation of a Zambia Investment Liaison Office in the U.S. will ensure long-term traction. 

The World Cup season will offer additional momentum for IBEx 2026, while proposed incentives and improved remittance structures will encourage broader diaspora participation.

To sustain this progress, ZDCC is encouraged to reduce over-reliance on individual leadership by building internal capacity—such as youth boards, sector taskforces, and succession structures. 

Future diplomatic engagements should aim for quantifiable outcomes, such as a 20% rise in diaspora foreign direct investment (FDI) by 2026.

The GEC 2025 marked a turning point in Zambia’s diaspora engagement journey. Under Freud Musanu’s leadership, the ZDCC leveraged international platforms, secured high-level diplomatic support, and laid a solid foundation for investment mobilization and policy influence. 

His global recognition and humility have already attracted fresh membership and investor interest.

As the $1 Billion Vision gains traction, the real test lies in turning this bold ambition into measurable national impact. 

On behalf of TipsNews.info, I, Francis John, applaud Freud Musanu and the Zambia Diaspora Chamber of Commerce, and extend special recognition to Ambassador Chibamba Kanyama for his unwavering support. 

Together, they are reimagining Zambia’s diaspora not just as contributors—but as strategic partners in the nation’s development.

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