The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry has signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Quality Institutions (NQIs) namely; Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to facilitate for training of more than 40 targeted agriculture sector Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Product Standardisation.
This is part of the Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation project currently being implemented by the Ministry with support from the African Development Bank valued at US$ 8.1 million.
ZCSA Executive Director, Mr Gerald Chizinga was one of the Chief Executive Officers from NQIs who signed the MOU.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary, Mrs Lillian Bwalya said the main aim of the Project is to enhance domestic and cross border trade among the Lobito Corridor States i.e., Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
Mrs Bwalya said the value of this MoU is US$65,000 which is equivalent to ZMW 1,735,500.
She said the training will be conducted in Solwezi, Mwinilunga and Kabompo Districts of the North Western Province.
The Permanent Secretary explained that the NQIs and CCPC will provide the training to the agriculture sector Cooperatives and SMEs.
Mrs Bwalya said 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.
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.
This railway line will link up with the existing Benguela Railway Line that ends up at the Port of Lobito on the Atlantic Ocean.
In addition, the Government plans to construction an all-weather road from Mwinilunga to the Jimbe Border Post (border with Angola) and a One Stop Border Post at Jimbe Border Post.
The Transport and Trade Infrastructure once developed will enhance trade as well as regional integration among the three Corridor States.
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 NQIs and CCPC, ZMA Executive Director Humphrey Nkobeni said the statutory bodies are ready to support SMEs through appropriate training.
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