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Trade Africa coaches SADC’s LDC members

Using the chances of the integration process


6/2004		  

Using the chances of the integration process

Events like Buyers/Sellers meetings are cardinal in creating business contacts which left on their own, SMEs could not establish, says Glyne Michelo, executive secretary of the Export Board of Zambia. The East African country hopes to benefit greatly from the SADC integration process. Zambian exports to SADC member states over the past five years accounted for an average of 46.6 percent of non-traditional goods. South Africa being the largest market with 60 percent.

How does “Trade Africa” support SMEs in Zambia?
Trade Africa in close collaboration with the Export Board of Zambia has provided support to Small and Medium Enterprises through training on practical know-how including business development, export marketing, quality, finance, insurance, trade fairs, transport and logistics. Trade Africa provided course materials and paid the consulting firm which undertook the training. In addition to short term training, Trade Africa supports SMEs’ personnel training in export promotion in Germany (“Advanced Training Programme”).

What are similar initiatives, which try to enhance trade in the region?
Other initiatives trying to enhance trade in the region include the USAID sponsored Zambia Trade and Investment Enhancement (ZAMTIE) project, the Hub (the Commonwealth Secretariat) as well as the International Trade Centre. Currently, the Commonwealth Secretariat in liaison with the Export Board of Zambia (EBZ) is undertaking a supply and demand survey within COMESA, the East African community, to identify products with export potential from Zambia in order to promote them in the free trade area. Trade Africa would achieve even better results if the assistance was extended to the acquisition of appropriate technology.

How do you see SADC integration process for Zambia?
Zambia will have to strengthen its manufacturing bases for SADC integration to have a more meaning impact on its socio-economic development. Zambia mostly exports agriculture raw material having low value when compared to processed products. Value addition could be ensured if our agro-processing industry was well developed.

Questions by Lydia Jebauer-Nirschl