Land-Linked Zambia @2023: A Transport & Logistics Event HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2023 LAND-LINKED ZAMBIA CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

The highlights of the 2023 LLZ Conference and Exhibition, in line with the statement provided by Dr Emmanuel Sampa, Assistant Director (Road and Rail) in the MTL, were:

• Event was graced by the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Hon. Frank Museba Tayali, MP

• Various institutions were represented: Government and public sector, private sector, RECs, financial lending institutions etc

• First session covered:

-Reforms undertaken by Zambia: market access, improvement in the investment climate, macroeconomic framework for the transport sector, ease of doing business in the transport sector etc

• Second session covered:

- Tourism (developmental aspects in the sector)

- Travel and transportation as an enabler for tourism development etc

• Third session covered:

- Benefits of domesticating the TTTFP

- How to address numerous bottlenecks / NTBs to trade such as through harmonised systems and standards etc

- Important that the multilateral agreements and model laws are adopted and domesticated to ease the movement of people and cargo and facilitate the provision of transport services

• Fourth session covered:

- Efficient border management and Simplified Trade Regime (STR)

- Inter-agency coordination and harmonisation etc

- Simplification, streamlining and harmonisation of systems, procedures and processes

- Involvement and importance of corridor management institutions

- Emerging NTBs and barriers to regional travel and transportation

- Embrace all the modes of transport (air, road, rail, water and pipeline transport) going forward

• Various exhibitors from within Zambia and the region

- Hope to do better in 2024 based on lessons learnt during the 2023 LLZ Conference and Exhibition

The closing remarks were provided by:

• Mr Chimwemwe Nyirenda, Managing Director at Africast Limited

In his closing remarks, Mr Nyirenda thanked the Government for providing an enabling environment to conduct the 2023 LLZ Conference and Exhibition. He stated that Africast Limited believed it could do better to meet stakeholder needs and expectations. The number of participants underlines the importance of the gathering. The delegates came from various countries including Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Australia and UK. This signifies that there is a business case and opportunities in Zambia. He also expressed gratitude to sponsors of the event. Mr

Nyirenda also wished the foreign participants safe trips back to their respective countries of origin

• Mr John Chiluwe, Assistant Director, Ministry of Transport and Logistics

Mr Chiluwe expressed gratitude to Africast Limited. He reported that the MTL was pleased with the attendance, level of participation and stakeholder representation. The LLZ Conference and Exhibition is a good initiative which should continue. He thanked individual institutions and countries that were represented. The event should continue in order to establish and create a legacy and also the need to ensure that successive events are successfully organised and conducted.

Land-linking Zambia is an important thing. Attitude and mindset change are essential. Undoubtedly, it will take time but Zambia should make progress as it heads in that direction: changing from land-locked to land-linked. Stakeholder consultation should work on the ground and continue to change the mindset. Zambian stakeholders should be part of the conversation as they are key in land-linking the country. Going forward, the Covid-19 pandemic should provide lessons for Zambia and other countries in the region and Africa at large. There is need to travel and learn from each other and network further and in order to generate business etc. Before planning for the 2024 LLZ Conference and Exhibition starts, delegates should continue collaborating and communicating. Mr Chiluwe offered best wishes and safe travels to both local and foreign delegates