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MCTI and NQI Sign MOU for Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation

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The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Quality Institutions (NQI) to launch the Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project, supported by the African Development Bank with a funding of $8.1 million.

The NQI includes key agencies such as the Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA), Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). This initiative aims to enhance domestic and cross-border trade among Lobito Corridor states, including Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia.

MCTI Permanent Secretary Ms. Lillian Bwalya emphasized that one of the project’s key objectives is capacity building for SMEs in agriculture, mining, and construction. She noted that many cooperatives and SMEs struggle to access markets due to a lack of product certification. The project will provide training in quality assurance and product standardization, enabling them to seize new market opportunities.

The Lobito Corridor offers a direct route to the seaport for mining products and goods from Zambia’s Copperbelt and North Western Provinces. This corridor has significant market potential, particularly as Angola currently imports much of its agricultural products from Brazil.

Additionally, the government is finalizing plans for a railway line from Chingola to Luacano in Angola, which will connect with the Benguela Railway to the Port of Lobito. Plans are also underway for an all-weather road from Mwinilunga to the Jimbe Border Post, along with a One Stop Border Post to streamline trade.

Ms. Bwalya highlighted that the signed MOU will facilitate the training of over 40 agriculture sector cooperatives and SMEs in product standardization, valued at $65,000 (approximately ZMW 1,735,500).

Mr. Nkobeni, Executive Director of ZMA, expressed gratitude for the continued support through the Lobito Trade Facilitation Project, emphasizing the dual benefits for NQI in terms of resources for quality assurance and financial support for SME training.

“This project is a significant step toward empowering SMEs, who are eager for support to enhance their capabilities,” Mr. Nkobeni said

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