The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Quality Institutions (NQI) to implement the Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project, supported by an African Development Bank grant of US$8.1 million.
This project aims to enhance both domestic and cross-border trade between Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The NQI comprises key regulatory bodies, including the Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA), Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
These institutions will play a critical role in streamlining trade facilitation processes, advancing corridor development, and boosting small and medium enterprise (SME) participation in key sectors like agriculture, mining, and construction.
During the signing ceremony, MCTI Permanent Secretary, Ms. Lillian Bwalya, emphasized that the project will provide training for cooperatives and SMEs in quality assurance and product standardization, opening up new market opportunities at local, regional, and international levels.
“The Lobito Corridor offers Zambian businesses a faster route to seaports for exports from the Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces,” Ms. Bwalya noted, adding that SMEs, particularly in agriculture, will benefit greatly as the corridor is further developed.
Angola, which currently imports a significant portion of its food from Brazil, presents a promising market for Zambian agricultural products.
The development of transport infrastructure along the Lobito Corridor, including a railway from Chingola to Angola and an all-weather road from Mwinilunga to Jimbe, will further boost trade and regional integration.
The MoU also includes provisions for training over 40 agricultural cooperatives and SMEs in product standardization, with a value of US$65,000 (ZMW 1.7 million).
Zambia Metrology Agency Executive Director, Mr. Humphrey Nkobeni, expressed appreciation for the support received through the project, highlighting that SMEs will benefit not only from improved quality standards but also from financial assistance to enhance market competitiveness.
