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Zambia and Tanzania have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade cooperation following the successful conclusion of the 2nd Bilateral Meeting on the Simplified Trade Regime (STR).
The meeting, held from December 17 to 19, 2025, in Tunduma, Tanzania, reviewed progress made since the last bilateral meeting and identified challenges affecting smooth trade facilitation along the shared corridor, according to a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday by Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Principal Public Relations Officer, Everness Nankala.
The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Hashil Abdallah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Tanzania, and Dr. Simon Ng’ona, Director of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia.
Key outcomes include commitments to enhance effective STR implementation and ensure seamless trade for small-scale cross-border traders, who drive 80 percent of Africa’s transactions.
“Key resolutions adopted included clarifying implementation timelines, streamlining procedures for border agencies, and supporting small-scale traders,” Nankala said.
She added that the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) tasked the Tanzania National Chambers of Commerce to operationalize the Trade Information Desk Officer (TIDO) by December 28, 2025, and directed the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to complete the Simplified Customs Document by January 31, 2026.
Other directives include allocating market space for Zambian businesses on the Tanzanian side and investigating challenges faced by small-scale cross-border traders.
“These agreements aim to promote trade facilitation, enhance regional integration, and improve the business environment for small-scale traders in both countries,” Nankala said.
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In his closing remarks, Ng’ona expressed optimism about the outcomes of the meeting:
“Today, we have made significant progress in translating the 2017 agreement into actionable steps to foster cross-border trade, empower small-scale traders, and promote regional integration,” he said.
Ng’ona highlighted resolutions including clarifying implementation timelines, streamlining border procedures, and supporting small-scale traders.
“We’ve strengthened coordination mechanisms and established monitoring frameworks,” he noted.
He emphasized that the STR agreement was critical for supporting small-scale cross-border traders and enhancing their businesses. He said the meeting outcomes were expected to remove trade rigidities and foster regional integration and shared prosperity.
Meanwhile, Abdallah underscored that the outcomes were actionable commitments, not mere statements of intent.
“It is now our collective responsibility to translate these resolutions into measurable progress within agreed timelines. Over the two days, we have engaged in open and constructive discussions on a wide range of issues affecting trade between our two countries,” he said.
Abdallah urged both sides to strengthen technical expertise, monitor the joint action plan regularly, and maintain open communication to sustain momentum.
“The Simplified Trade Regime remains a key instrument in promoting inclusive trade, enhancing economic resilience, and supporting livelihoods at the community level. The meeting outcomes are expected to boost cross-border trade and enhance economic cooperation between Tanzania and Zambia,” he stated.
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