By Mubanga Mubanga
Commerce, Trade and Industry minister Chipoka Mulenga says the successful implementation of the The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will lead to the creation of more decent jobs, improved welfare and better quality of life for all citizenry, and sustainable development.
Speaking on the margins of the meeting, Mulenga said the meeting marked another milestone in the government’s quest to unlock Africa’s trade potential through the AfCFTA.
He said the continent had also embarked on the gradual elimination of tariffs on goods and reduction of barriers to trade.
“To boost intra-African trade, the continent has embarked on the gradual elimination of tariffs on 90 percent of goods, and the reduction of barriers to trade in services aimed at increasing Africa’s income by $450 billion by 2035,” Mulenga said.
He said Zambia was committed to participating in the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) and the fully flagged Free Trade Area (FTA).
Mulenga also said Zambia was almost concluding the domestication process of the Agreement and would soon express interest to join State Parties piloting the GTI.
He said the relevant instruments for domestication had undergone national consultations and were now before the Ministry of Justice for clearance.
The minister also urged Council Members on the need to adopt progressive provisions on the proposed rules of origin for certain products.
He supported the need to have a more flexible rule on textiles under Chapter 61 to allow for sourcing of limited or unavailable inputs from non-African countries.
The minister however said, he recommended that this exception should be time bound and that efforts should be made towards building this industry so that it was self-sustaining.
AfCFTA Secretariat has convened the Thirteenth (13th) Meeting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers Responsible for Trade from 30th to 31st January 2024 in Durban, Republic of South Africa.
The Council was preceded by the 16th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Trade Officials held from 26th to 29th January, 2024.
Mulenga is leading the Zambian delegation and those in his delegation include Dr Simon Ng’ona, Director Foreign Trade and officials from the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria.
In picture: Commerce minister Chipoka Mulenga and Emily Mburu-Ndoria – Director Trade In Services, Invest Digital Trade AfCFTA Secretariat
