Sinokubonga Nkala
Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE is set to host another prestigious Southern African Development Community (SADC) economic structure conference focusing on technical trade barriers and exploring the regional bloc’s readiness for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The 40th Annual SADC Technical Barriers to Trade Cooperation structures meeting is pencilled for March next year.
Zimbabwe assumed the chairmanship of the regional bloc in August.
SADC views trade as fundamental in its economic development as it has broader benefits that support regional integration.
An increase in trade through liberalisation of policies increases economic growth and improves the quality of life of the people.
A population of nearly 390 million people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$841 billion, provides enormous potential for trade and investment opportunities in the region.
However, a key obstacle to increased intra-regional trade is non-tariff barriers.
These are defined as obstacles to trade, other than import and export duties. For example, these can be delays at border crossing points and requirements to obtain too many permits to move goods.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said Cabinet received and approved the proposal to host the 40th Annual SADC Technical Barriers to Trade Co-operation structures meetings as presented by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu.
Dr Muswere said the 40th Annual SADC Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Co-operation structures meetings will be held from March 24-28, 2025 in Victoria Falls.
“The assumption of SADC chairmanship by His Excellency the President, Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa has bestowed upon the Government of Zimbabwe the privilege to host the SADC Technical Barriers to Trade Cooperation structures meetings,” he said.
The meetings will run under the theme, “Promoting Regional Harmonisation of Standards for Industrialisation and Economic Growth.”
The meetings aim to address the region’s technical barriers to trade (TBT), explore the regional bloc’s readiness for the AfCFTA, and support industrialisation through the development of standardisation, quality assurance, accreditation, and metrology.
The SADC’s TBT Cooperation Structures are a part of its regional quality infrastructure, which also includes the SADC Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) co-ordinating committee and its subcommittees.
These structures work to improve the quality and competitiveness of goods and services produced in the SADC region and also ensure that imported goods and services meet international standards.
Added to that, they create instruments and soft skills to strengthen regulatory support frameworks.
To boost regional trade, the bloc has put in place mechanisms and protocols, key among them the SADC Protocol on Trade which came into force on January 25, 2000.
A critical step taken by the region to encourage trade was the establishment of a Free Trade Area (FTA) launched during the 28th SADC Summit held in August 2008 in South Africa.
A free trade area is one in which several countries in a grouping agree to remove tariffs against each other as a means to foster economic co-operation.
Following the launch of the SADC Free Trade Area, payment of duty was removed on more than 85 percent of goods produced in the region.
Despite this progress made, “new and long-standing unresolved non-tariff barriers” continue to present challenges.
AfCFTA, an African Union Agenda 2063 flagship initiative, which has a population of about 1,3 billion people and a combined Gross Domestic Product of approximately US$3,4 trillion, seeks to create a single market.
It was operationalised in January 2021 to streamline customs procedures, reduce bureaucracy, and harmonise technical standards to ease the movement of goods across the continent’s borders.
The AfCFTA agreement, to which Zimbabwe is a signatory, aims to eliminate tariffs on 90 percent of goods traded between member States over a 10-year period.
The objective is to foster regional economic integration and boost intra-African trade by 53 percent by next year with the potential to create up to 30 million jobs and lift 30 million people out of poverty.
