Report Land-Linked Zambia© : Conference & Exhibition 2022
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Workshop 7 AfCFTA and what it means to Zambia and the Region
This workshop was moderated by Obby Banda of the Zambia Development Agency. In welcoming participants, he stated that the AfCFTA connected over 1 billion people with the aim of creating a single market for Africans. This is the largest free trade area in the world!
The presenter further acknowledged the energy in trying to revive Zambia’s tourism sector. It is important to also note that strategies to develop to push the industrialization agenda for key sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, aqua processing, tourism and textiles have been identified. Government’s move to promote a green economy was equally important and would benefit the country. While AfCFTA will push for efficient trade facilities, it is important to track and monitor implementation of agreements by member states. Despite the benefits of the AfCFTA, reduction in revenue, high competition and high production costs, to mention a few, would pose a short term challenge in implementing the AfCFTA.
Bessie Chelemu, Director of Foreign Trade at Zambia’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry was the first to present on the topic. It is important for Zambian and Africans as a whole to understand the AfCFTA very well. She emphasised that, “this is an opportunity Zambia and Africa cannot afford to miss”. Delegates were informed that issues regarding the AfCFTA dates back as far as 2012 and Zambia handed in her signed instruments on 5th February 2021. This agreement will provide a larger market and also enhance competition among member states by improving value addition and elimination of tariffs. Zambia had launched the National Implementation Strategy in 2021, with President Hakainde Hichilema stating that he was Zambia’s Chief Marketing Officer for AfCFTA guided by the 3Rs - Recovery, Revive and Repair.
In response to questions on the many certifications Zambian manufacturing industries are subjected to, and the need to prevent Zambia from being used as a dumping place of products, the Director of Foreign Trade at Zambia’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry informed delegates that in 2020, the government launched a trade portal and has all the information on trade. He alternatively encouraged them to visit the Zambia Development Agency for more details.
This will be achieved by revising the Zambia Development Bill that seeks to build institutional capacity, and provide proper national investment plans among others. 1
Director of Foreign Trade at Zambia’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Bessie Chelemu, (1) delivers points on AfCFTA and as COMESA secretariat, Caeser Cheelo follows through(2)
The Government is making sure that Zambia is not a dumping site, hence, the Border Management Bill, because, “as you implement the AfCFTA, a country’s own legal framework must be right” she said. She added that Zambians usually shun local products so work by the ministry on sensitising the general public and a task force is in place to monitor the importation of goods and protect local products. The Ministry is also working on reducing the cost of doing business in Zambia, as it works closely with the Zambia Bureau of Standards and the private sector.
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