The Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) with support from the German Government and in collaboration with the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI) and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry convened a two-day sensitisation workshop for agro-processing and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in Lusaka, Zambia on 21–22 July 2026.
In his opening remarks Dr. Dhunraj Kassee, Director for Industrial Development and Trade, at the SADC Secretariat commended ZACCI for organising the engagement on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and non-tariff barriers (NTBs). He emphasised that, guided by Member States, SADC is assisting public and private stakeholders to understand the provisions of AfCFTA, positioning the region to leverage its trade preferences to boost intra-African trade, accelerate industrialisation, and advance sustainable development.
On behalf of the Government of Zambia, the Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Lilian Bwalya reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to enabling the private sector to unlock AfCFTA opportunities. She underscored the AfCFTA as a strategic platform for Zambia to expand exports, promote value addition, create jobs, and integrate businesses into regional and continental value chains conditional on firms understanding the AfCFTA Agreement and preparing to compete across African markets.
On his part, the ZACCI Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Mumba, underscored the importance of strengthening the capacity of Zambian businesses to fully leverage the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA. He emphasised that equipping enterprises with the requisite knowledge, technical skills, and practical understanding of the Agreement is essential for enhancing their competitiveness within Africa's single market.
Zambia ratified the AfCFTA in February 2021 and has developed the AfCFTA National implementation strategy. The two-day sensitization workshop covered practical modules on NTBs, Rules of Origin, export procedures, trade facilitation, and trade in services. These modules were delivered by experts from the SADC Secretariat, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), and MCTI. The workshop concluded with interactive discussions on practical strategies to strengthen Zambia’s participation in intra-African trade and enhance private-sector competitiveness.
