June2013Page1
ApplicationManualfor
Investors
CertificateofRegistration
andotherLicenses
PublishedbytheZambiaDevelopmentAgency©2012
ASupplementto
“ZambiaInvestorGuideHandbook”(June2013)
and“Zambia:Africa’sNewFrontierforInvestmentsandProfits”
(FourthEdition,2012)
1.GREETINGFROMZDA
OnbehalfoftheGovernmentoftheRepublicof
sinceregratitudeforyourconsiderationofourcountryasapossibleplaceforyoutodo
business.Thelastfourdecadesofouryoungnation’sexistencehasprovedthatthecountry
ofZambiaisthebestexemplarofnationalpoliticalstabilityinSouthernAfrica.
hascompletedits6thmulti-partypeacefulpoliticaltransition,whichincludeaPresidential
bye-electionwiththeSeptember2011ElectionsbringingthePatrioticFrontasanew
governmentintopower.Whilewe,thenewgovernmentof
systemsandapproachestothewaysofgovernmentinourcountryinordertoimprovethe
livesofourpeopleandbringgreaterefficiencytoourinstitutions,atthesametimewewill
alsoremaindevotedtopromotingeconomicdevelopment,nurturingofinvestmentin
Zambiaandexpanding
nationtocontinueitsjourneytowardsbecomingadevelopednation,webelievethatyou,
theinvestor,andthoselikeyouplayacrucialroleinthisjourneyandthatwe,the
government,andyou,theinvestor,mustcooperateandsupporteachothersothatwemay
allgrowtogether.
investmentfromacrosstheglobe.Butitisnot
rangeofgrowingsectorsthatwearepromotingtodrive
diversification.OurareasofparticularfocusoverthenextfewyearswillbeinAgrobusiness,
livestock,fisheries,tourism,manufacturing,energyandinfrastructure.Withyour
investmentin
employmentandtechnologicaladvancement,butthatyouaswellwillgainwith
unparalleledreturnsonyourinvestmentandbyattainingafootholdintotheSouthern
Africanmarketsthroughwhichyoumayexpandyourbusinessandinvestment.Astravelers
overcenturieshavecomethrough
societiesofthisregion,wehopethatyoutowillfindZambiaasasafeandstablestarting
pointforyourinvestmentasyoumoveintotheSouthernAfricanregion.
OnbehalfoftheZambianDevelopmentAgency(ZDA)whosemandateistopromote
tradeandinvestmentintheRepublicof
“User-friendly”ApplicationManualforInvestorsandwithitthefullsupportand
customer(investor)friendlyassistanceoftheZDA.
Zambiais“
communitiesinwhichyouwilloperate.Ihopethatyouwillchoosetoinvestinthisgreat
nationandthatyourpresencewillserveasafoundationforthemutualbenefitand
friendshipbetweenyouandournationinthenearfuture.
Respectfullyyours,
AndrewChipwende,DirectorGeneralofZDA
ZDAClientCharter
OURVISION
TobecomeaworldclassAgencyforpromotionandfacilitation
oftradeandinvestment.
OUR
Topromoteandfacilitateinvestment,trade,competitivenessand
developmentofmicro,smallandmediumenterprises
byprovidingcomprehensiveservicesin
atransparent,innovativeandefficientmanner.
OURCOREVALUES
•Integrity
•Dynamism
•Professionalism.
•Passion
•TeamSpirit
•Accountability
CHARTERREVIEW
Strivingforserviceexcellence,ZDAwillcontinuallyseektoobtainthe
viewsofourclientsthroughcommentchannels,regularone-to-onemeetings
andannualinvestorevents.Thisinput,togetherwithinternalreviews,willbe
usedtoreviseourclient.
Wearecommittedtocontinuousreviewandimprovementofallservice
deliveryandwelcomeclientinvolvementthroughcommentstotheManagerof
CommunicationsandPublicRelations:
E-mail:info[ta]zda.org.zmTel:+260211220177Fax:+260211225270
TableofContents
1.GREETINGFROMZDA...2
2.ZDACLIENTCHARTER..3
3.FLOWCHARTOFZDAAPPLICATIONFORCoR5
4.PROCEDURESFORAPPLICATIONFORCoR..6
4.1Overview6
4.2STEP1:ConsultationandPreparationofDocuments7
4.3STEP2:SubmissionofApplicationForms.7
4.4STEP3:ReceiptofCertificateofRegistration7
5.APPLICATIONFORINVESTMENTINCENTIVES8
5.1Overview8
5.2STEP1:ConsultationandDocumentPreparation8
5.3STEP2:ReceiptofFinalApprovedSchedule8
5.4STEP3:ApplicationforCorporateTaxIncentives..8
6.APPLICATIONFORIMMIGRATIONPERMITS.9
6.1Overview9
6.2STEP1:ConsultationandDocumentPreparation9
6.3STEP2:ReceiptofPermits..9
7.OTHERREQUIREDLICENSES/PERMISSIONS9
7.1EnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA)9
7.2TelecommunicationsLicense.9
7.3TourismLicense9
7.4FinancialandNon-FinancialInstitutions..10
7.5InsurancePermit.10
7.6Medical-relatedLicense.10
7.7StockBrokerRegistration..10
7.8ManufacturingLicense10
8.FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS(FAQ)...10
8.1AcquisitionofCertificateofRegistrationProcess.10
8.2ImmigrationIssues.11
8.3InitialFundsandFinancing12
8.4InvestmentPromotionandProtectionAgreements(IPPA)12
8.5ApplyingforIncentives..13
8.6InvestmentSectors,PrioritySectors,andOwnership.13
Annex1CoRRequiredApplicationDocumentsChecklist..15
Annex2ListofPriorityandMFEZPrioritySectors16
Annex3ApplicationforCoRFormandAnnexes18
Annex4ApplicationforCustomsDutyExemption.24
Annex5ApplicationforImmigrationStatus..25
Annex6ImmigrationRequirementsChecklist.26
3.FLOWCHARTOFZDAAPPLICATIONFORCERTIFICATEOF
REGISTRATION(CoR)
Generalconsultationthrough
meetingwithaZDAofficer
Information/guidance
giventoinvestor.
Applicationformissued
Investorprepares
necessary
documentsand
submitstoZDA
officer
Step2:Submission
ofApplication
InvestmentPromotionofficer
reviewsdocumentsandadvises
whentherearemissing
documents.Forcomplete
applicationsinvestorproceedsto
thenextstep.
Investorpaysprocessingfees
toaccountsandbringsa
receipttoZDAofficer
Officerfilestheapplication
tothesystemserverwhich
canbeaccessedbyall
investmentpromotionstaff
Step3:ReceiptofZDA
CoRwithin72hrs+.
SeniorInvestmentofficer
screenstheapplicationand
checksforsuitability
Applicationisprocessedand
recommendedforapproval
IssueApprovalletterCertificateprocessing
Certificatesigningbythe
DirectorGeneral
CertificateofRegistration
issuedtotheinvestor.
CertificatesigningbyDirector
CorporateServices
Step1:Consultation
Box1:BenefitsofHoldingaCoR
Non-FiscalIncentives
OnceyouholdaCoRyouwillbeentitledtothefollowingnonfiscalincentives:
Investmentguaranteesandprotectionagainststatenationalization;
Freefacilitationinapplyingforimmigrationpermits,secondarylicenses,landacquisitionsand
utilities;and
Theabilitytoownlandunderthecompany’sname.
FiscalIncentives
Ifyouinvest$500,000ormoreinaprioritysector,youwillbeabletoreceive:
Acorporatetaxrateof0%foraninitialperiodof5yearsfromthefirstyearprofitsaremadeby
yourcompany.Foryears6to8thereafteryourcorporatetaxratewillonlybeappliedto50%of
yourprofitsandthen75%oftheprofitsinyear9to10;
Dividendsshallbeexemptedfromtaxfor5yearsfromtheyearoffirstdeclaration;and
Improvementallowanceof100%CapitalExpenditureonimprovementorfortheupgradingof
infrastructure
SuspendedCustomsDutytozerofor5yearsonmachineryandequipment.
OtherIncentivesApplicabletoCoRHolders
AsaCoRholder,youwillalsobeentitledtotheincentivesof:
ExemptionfromtaxesondividendsdeclaredbyacompanylistedontheLusakaStockExchange;
Exemptionfromtaxesondividendsdeclaredbyacompanyintheassemblyofmotorvehicles,
motorcyclesandbicyclesindustriesforaperiodoffiveyearsfromthedateoffirstdeclaration;
Dutiesoncomputerpartsbeingreducedfrom15%tozeropercent;
4.PROCEDURESFORAPPLICATIONFORACERTIFICATEOFREGISTRATION
4.1Overview
EveryInvestor,regardlessofwhethertheyarepotentialorestablishediswelcometovisitthe
DevelopmentAgency(ZDA)andspeaktoanyoftheInvestmentPromotionOfficers(IPO).The
InvestmentPromotionOfficersareintheofficeofthegroudflooroftheZDAbuilding,andtheofficeis
openeverydayoftheweekfrom08h00-13h00and14h00-17h00.
TheIPOwilldiscussthevariousopportunitiesin
immigrationrequirements.Thisconsultationprocessisnecessaryfortheinvestortofullyunderstandthe
investmentprocedure,stepstotakeandtheexpectedoutcomes.Thisprocessalsohelpsyoupreparefor
yourapplicationfora“CertificateofRegistration”(CoR),customsdutyexemptionsandimmigration
permitapplications.
Therearenolimitsontheamountofinvestmentrequiredtobemade,however,therearesome
minimuminvestmentthresholdstoqualifyforcertainbenefits,specifically:
NolessthanUS$250,000inordertoqualifyforanInvestorsPermit;and,
NolessthanUS$500,000inordertoqualifyforspecialtaxincentivesforPrioritySectors
orproducts(alistofsuchsectorsandproductscanbefoundunderAnnex2).
Oncereceived,theCoRisvalidforten(10)yearsfromthedateofissueandyoumayapplyforits
renewalpriortothedateofexpiry.
WhenyoumakethedecisiontoapplyfortheCoR,youwillbeguidedbythe(IPO),stepbystep
shouldyouneedassistance.ThefollowingstepsareundertakeninyourapplicationforCoR.
Dutiesonthefollowinginputsforthetextileandclothingmanufacturingbeingreducedfrom15%to
zeropercent:
oGreyfabric;
oWovenfabric;
oSewingthreads;and
oSewingmachinespareparts;
Dutiesonselectedmachineryusedinthetextileandclothingmanufacturingbeingreducedfrom5%
tozeropercent;
Dutyoninputsusedinthemanufacturingofroofingsheetsbeingreducedtozeropercentfor5years
effectivefrom2006
Dutyonallmachinery,fixtures,equipment,tools,motorvehicleparts,motorcyclepartsandbicycle
partsusedinthemanufacturingofmotorvehicles,motorcyclesandbicyclesbeingreducedtozero
percentfor5yearseffectivefrom2006;
Dutyonmaterialsusedinthemanufacturingandpackagingofcementbeingreducedtozeropercent
for5yearseffectivefrom2006;
Abilitytoexternalizationof‘After-Tax’incomewithoutrestriction.
4.2STEP1:CONSULTATIONANDPREPARATIONOFDOCUMENTS
(A)WhenyouarereadytoapplyfortheCoR,theIPOwillprovidegeneralguidelinesonhowthe
applicationprocess,incentives,immigration,theminimumrequirementsyouneedtomeetandthe
paymentmethodsinvolved.Youarethenpermittedtotakeyourapplicationformtogetherwith
proceduresandguidelinesforcompletionoftheformandpreparationofallnecessaryattachments.
4.3STEP2:SUBMISSIONOFAPPLICATIONFORMS
(A)OnceyourapplicationiscompleteandtheIPOhasanalyzeditandissatisfied,youarethenexpected
topayK1,280.00totheaccountsdepartmentasprocessingfee.Youwillbeissuedwith2receipts,
onebeingtheoriginalforyourrecordsandsafekeepingandaduplicatethatyouresubmittotheIPO
asproofofpaymentforyourfile.
(B)Yourapplicationisthenenteredintotheapplicationsapprovaldatabaseandimmediatelyforwarded
totheSeniorInvestmentPromotionsOfficer(SIPO)forfurtheranalysis.
(C)Yourapplicationwillthenbesubjectedtointernalanalysisonseveralpointssuchasviabilityofthe
project,economicimpact,andjobcreation.
(D)Duetothenecessitytoanalyzetheprojectbyseveralofficials,somedelaysmayarise;however,the
approvalprocesstakes3-5workingdaysoftheofficialsubmission.
4.4STEP3:ReceiptofCertificateofRegistration
(A)Afteryourlicensehasbeenapproved,youareadvisedtopaythelicensefeeofK7,670.00tothe
accountsdepartment.
(B)YourlicensewillbeaccompaniedbyaletterfromtheDirectorGeneraladvisingthesectionunder
whichyourlicensehasbeenapproved.Ifyourlicenseisapprovedundersection68oftheZDAAct,
thenyourprojectwillnotbeeligibleforSpecialTaxBenefitsasprovidedforundertheAct;
however,ifitisapprovedunderSection56,youarethenadvisedtofillintheCustomsDuty
ApplicationFormprovidedforbytheIPO(Annex3).