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Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary for Trade and Commerce, Lillian Bwalya, has stressed the importance of addressing emerging trade and non-trade concerns through continued dialogue between Zambia and Tanzania.
Speaking during the Zambia–Tanzania Bilateral Trade Senior Officials Meeting in Nakonde, Muchinga Province, Bwalya said the meeting was crucial in fostering economic development and prosperity for the two nations.
She noted that the ultimate objective was to create a more predictable and efficient cross-border environment, according to a statement issued in Nakonde on Thursday by Ministry Principal Public Relations Officer, Everness Nankala.
The senior officials’ meeting, held on August 20, 2025, was preceded by an experts’ session from August 18–19, 2025, and followed directives by Presidents Hakainde Hichilema and Samia Suluhu Hassan to enhance the smooth flow of trade between Zambia and Tanzania.
Bwalya praised the efforts of the technical teams from both countries, whose groundwork she said had laid a strong foundation for the senior-level discussions.
“These deliberations are expected to yield practical decisions that will strengthen bilateral trade along the North-South Corridor,” she said.
She also cited past high-level engagements, including President Hassan’s State Visit to Lusaka in October 2023 and President Hichilema’s visit to Tanzania in August 2022, which advanced key infrastructure and trade initiatives.
Bwalya commended Tanzania for donating a cargo scanner to Zambia, saying its installation would enhance inspections, reduce delays, and improve security at the Nakonde border.
“Zambia remains committed to ensuring that the scanner is installed at the earliest possible time to help decongest traffic,” she said.
She added that the meeting was an opportunity to candidly examine challenges and propose actionable solutions for presentation to ministers at a later stage, with a focus on eliminating trade barriers, harmonizing regulations, improving border infrastructure, and strengthening trade facilitation in line with regional and multilateral obligations.
Meanwhile, she applauded Tanzania’s leadership during its tenure as Chairperson of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting its role in shaping key protocols. She reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment in its new role as Second Vice-Chairperson of the AfCFTA Bureau.
On his part, Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Dr. Hashil Abdallah, highlighted progress made since the 3rd Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting held in Tunduma in April 2024.
He said key issues discussed then—including improvements at the Tunduma/Nakonde One-Stop Border Post, harmonization of customs and transport regulations, and infrastructure upgrades along the corridor—remained central to the bilateral trade facilitation agenda.
Abdallah stressed the importance of aligning bilateral efforts with commitments under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) framework, such as removing non-tariff barriers, harmonizing standards, and deepening cross-border trade integration.
He added that the Nakonde meeting provided an opportunity to address emerging challenges and ensure the trade corridor remained competitive, secure, and reliable for all users.
Through open dialogue, technical expertise, and mutual goodwill, Abdallah expressed confidence that the two countries would consolidate past gains and establish concrete milestones to guide future cooperation.
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