21/10/2025
TRADE KINGS UNVEILS $110 MILLION ZAMBIA’S FIRST GLUCOSE AND STARCH PLANT
Trade Kings Group today officially commissioned Zambia’s first-ever glucose and starch manufacturing plant under Kingsworth Group Limited (KGL), marking a historic milestone in the country’s industrialisation drive.
The commissioning ceremony, held at the Lusaka Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ), was graced by His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, and attended by senior government officials, industry leaders, and other dignitaries.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Phil Daka, Group Executive Director – Corporate Affairs for the Trade Kings Group, hailed the project as “a defining milestone in Zambia’s journey towards economic transformation and self-reliance.”
“Today we celebrate not just a facility, but an idea whose time has come,” Mr. Daka stated. “This USD 110 million investment — with USD 60 million already completed under Phase 1 and another USD 50 million for Phase 2 — positions Zambia as the third producer of glucose and starch in Africa, after Egypt and South Africa, creating over 1,000 direct jobs.”
Driving Value Addition and Agricultural Empowerment
At full capacity, the KGL plant will source over 126,000 tons of maize annually from local farmers, supporting thousands of smallholders and strengthening Zambia’s agribusiness value chain. The facility will produce starch, glucose, maltodextrin, and animal feed by-products — key inputs for the food, beverage, and manufacturing industries.
The investment is expected to deliver far-reaching economic benefits, including:
•USD 30 million in annual import savings
•Up to USD 150 million in export potential
•Job creation and SME linkages
•Strengthened food security and increased foreign exchange earnings
Mr. Daka noted that the project “epitomises the power of public–private collaboration,” made possible through the enabling environment provided by the Government under President Hichilema’s administration.
“Trade Kings proudly aligns with the President’s call to move Zambia from consumption to production, and from imports to exports,” he said. “The policy incentives within the MFEZ have made this growth possible, showing how effective industrial policy can stimulate sustainable private sector investment.”
Trade Kings’ Continued Commitment to Zambia’s Growth
With a total investment now exceeding USD 1 billion and with a staff compliment of 17500 full time employees and a strong social impact through the Trade Kings foundation’s investments in education and health.
Mr. Daka also revealed that Dairy Gold Limited, a Trade Kings subsidiary, is set to commission a new USD 30 million dairy processing plant, adding to the USD 50 million already invested in the dairy sector.
“Our guiding principle remains simple yet powerful — improving lives,” he emphasized.
Symbol of Economic Independence
The commissioning of the KGL plant, just days before Zambia’s 61st Independence Anniversary, symbolizes a new era of “true economic independence” — the ability to produce, innovate, and prosper as a nation.
“This project represents a national achievement — a bold step towards self-reliance, industrialisation, and inclusive growth,” concluded Mr. Daka. “Together with government, we will continue building industries that create jobs, grow exports, and transform Zambia into a modern, prosperous nation.”
if it were not for the President’s visionary leadership and the enabling policy environment he has championed — through initiatives such as agriculture-based industrial incentives and the broader private sector engagement strategy — this transformative investment would not have been possible.
