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Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are finalising plans to launch a Simplified Trade Regime (STR) aimed at easing cross-border trade for small-scale traders, particularly women and youth.
The initiative, set for official launch on April 30, 2026 at Kasumbalesa border post, is intended to simplify customs procedures and expand access to preferential trade terms.
Chairperson of a technical meeting on the programme, Patricia Mwela, said discussions were in the final phase of implementation.
“This is now the countdown to launch,” she said, adding that previous engagements had laid the groundwork for operationalisation.
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Mwela said new infrastructure at Kasumbalesa would support traders and improve efficiency at the border.
She said the programme reflects growing bilateral cooperation between Zambia and the DRC.
Congolese co-chairperson, Laurent Mbuyamba, said the DRC was committed to resolving outstanding issues ahead of the rollout.
At regional level, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) indicated that the STR would help reduce trade barriers and improve revenue collection while supporting small-scale traders.
The Facilitating Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Trade (FIRST) Project stated that more than 70 percent of small-scale cross-border traders are women and youth, stressing the need for inclusive implementation.
The STR has been under negotiation for more than seven years between the two countries.
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