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The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation between the two countries, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), human resource development, and potential trilateral partnerships.
His Excellency Mr. Alok Ranjan Jha, High Commissioner of India to Zambia and Special Representative to COMESA, paid a courtesy visit to Zambia’s Ministry of Technology and Science on 27 January 2026. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation between the two countries, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), human resource development, and potential trilateral partnerships.
A key topic of discussion was Zambia’s participation in the AI Impact Summit, scheduled to take place in India from 16 to 20 February 2026, with the main sessions on 19 and 20 February. This event marks the Fourth Global AI Summit and the first to be hosted in a developing country, following previous editions in the United Kingdom, South Korea, and France. The summit is expected to draw over 100 countries, including CEOs, innovators, civil society organizations, and academic institutions.
The High Commissioner highlighted Zambia’s growing potential in AI, particularly in the health sector, and noted strong interest from Smart Zambia and other stakeholders. Participation in the summit will allow Zambia to learn from international best practices, showcase local AI innovations, and contribute to discussions on responsible and inclusive AI frameworks tailored to developing countries.
The visit also reviewed ongoing cooperation through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, which offers Zambia 170 annual training slots across over 300 areas, including AI, agriculture, and digital technologies. The High Commissioner encouraged improved utilization of these slots and proposed increasing Zambia’s allocation to 300–350 annually, contingent on sustained demand. Additionally, India provides 20 ICCR scholarships each year for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies, complementing Zambia’s national scholarship programs.
Discussions also explored potential bilateral and trilateral projects, including initiatives with France and Germany, aligned with upcoming intergovernmental engagements in 2026 and 2027. Zambia’s Permanent Secretary, Eng. Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, emphasized the country’s commitment to ethical and development-oriented AI adoption across sectors such as agriculture, mining, industry, and economic planning, highlighting the need to align AI implementation with national development goals and ongoing reforms in technical education and skills development.
The Ministry acknowledged previous challenges in fully utilizing training opportunities and reaffirmed its commitment to improving coordination, communication, and stakeholder engagement to maximize the benefits of international collaboration in technology and AI.