Inclusive or Exclusive Globalization?: Zambia’s Economy and Asian Investment

Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy grew rapidly from 2004 to 2008, driven largely by Asian investment and trade. Much of this activity has been in primary commodities, but Asian-owned manufacturing and other businesses in Africa, despite growing rapidly, have received very little attention. Using survey research and other primary and secondary data, this paper investigates the nature and impacts of Asian businesses in Zambia to interrogate whether their developmental impacts are inclusive or exclusionary. It then moves to assess the likely impact of the current global slowdown and how it will affect Sino-Zambian economic relations.