Government Signs US$65,000 MoU with NQIs to Train Over 40 SMEs Under Lobito Corridor Trade

Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with National Quality Institutions (NQIs), valued at US$65,000, to facilitate for training of over 40 targeted agriculture sector Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Product Standardization.

The National Quality Institutions include Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) as well as Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

ZCSA Executive Director, Gerald Chizinga was one of the Chief Executive Officers from NQIs who signed the MoU.

The Memorandum of Understanding is part of the Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation project currently being implemented by the Ministry of Commerce with support from the African Development Bank valued at US$8.1 million.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Permanent Secretary Lillian Bwalya said the MoU is valued at US$65,000 which is equivalent to K1,735,500, adding that the training will be conducted in Solwezi, Mwinilunga and Kabompo Districts of the North Western Province.

Mrs. Bwalya explained that the main aim of the project is to enhance domestic and cross border trade among the Lobito Corridor States which are Zambia, Angola, and Democratic Republic of Congo.

She said National Quality Institutions and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will provide the training to the agriculture sector Cooperatives and SMEs.

“It has been observed that most of the agriculture sector Cooperatives and SMEs are not able to access the local, regional and foreign markets because their products are not certified by the Quality Institutions.”

“In this regard, the Project undertakes to train Cooperatives and SMEs in Quality Assurance and Product Standardization so that they can benefit from the ensuing market access opportunities in the Lobito Corridor and beyond,” Mrs. Bwalya stated.

She noted that the Lobito Corridor offers a shorter route to a seaport for Mining products and other goods produced on the Copperbelt and North Western Provinces in Zambia.

And Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Director -Foreign Trade, Dr. Simon Ng’ona said the training is important to foster the growth of SMEs.

Speaking on behalf of the NQIs and CCPC, Zambia Meteorology Agency Executive Director Humphrey Nkobeni stated that the statutory bodies are ready to support SMEs through appropriate training.

The Lobito Corridor is highly populated as such offers a big market for businesses in Zambia. Currently, Angola imports most of its agriculture products/food from Brazil in South America.

Once the Corridor is fully developed, the mining and agriculture businesses in Zambia will benefit from the opportunities that will be available in the market.

The Government is currently finalizing the Agreement for the construction of a railway line from Chingola on the Copperbelt Province through the North Western Province to Luacano in Angola.

In addition, Government plans to construct an all-weather road from Mwinilunga to the Jimbe Border Post with Angola and a One Stop Border Post at Jimbe Border Post.

Once developed, the Transport and Trade Infrastructure will enhance trade as well as regional integration among the three Corridor States.