Investment policy has always played one of the most important roles in the development of the national economy. Foreign direct investment is interconnected with the activities of multinational companies and the opportunities that can be obtained by the host country. The article reveals the investment policy of Zambia and the role played by the public sector in it. The identified competitive advantages prove that Zambia has significant investment potential even though the country does not have direct access to the sea. Significant reserves of mineral raw materials confirm the energy and resource security of the economy, which is the area for investment by both national and foreign companies. The authors pay attention to several important problems of socio-economic significance, which complicate the effective and full functioning of the economy. The authors found that there are not enough studies in the domestic and foreign literature on the investment potential of Zambia. The study of inward investment activity showed that free economic zones are the most effective tool for attracting FDI, while the extractive sector remains the most attractive in this area. A comparative analysis of the disadvantages and advantages of the Zambian economy, conducted by the authors, proves that the state has the necessary elements of investment attractiveness. However, it was noted that the arrival of investments in the country should also meet the socio-economic interests of the state.