Zambia has finalized the gazetting of its provisional schedule of Tariff Concessions (PSTC) under the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), through Statutory Instrument (SI) number 92 of December 2024.
This means the country is ready to start trading under AfCFTA. The concessions, enacted through SI 92 of 30th December 2024, marked Zambia s readiness to participate in AfCFTA, following the earlier introduction of SI number 94.
Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry principal public relations office Everness Nankala said in a statement on Wednesday 19th February 2025 that this move allows Zambia to expand its preferential market access beyond the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). “The Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry encourages the private sector to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance trade, “Ms. Nankala said.
She urged businesses to engage in AfCFTA trade in line with the African Unions Agenda 20263, which seeks to book intra-African Commerce and economic integration. MS. Nankala said Government is committed to supporting local enterprises in leveraging AfCFTA opportunities, adding that efforts will continue to address trade facilitation challenges and maximise benefits for Zambia.
The AfCFTA is Africa’s flagship initiative aimed at creating a single market of 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP of approximately US$3.4 trillion. It provided a framework for tariff reductions, trade in services, investment promotion, digital trade, competition policy and intellectual property rights.
Source: Zambia Daily Mail
