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Africa Moyo, Harare Bureau

ZIMBABWE is set to host the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Co-operation Structures meetings from March 24 to 28, in Victoria Falls.

As the SADC Chair, Zimbabwe is committed to enhancing regional trade by addressing critical technical barriers that have long obstructed intra-regional commerce.

Preparations for the event are at an advanced stage, with the venue secured and delegate registration already underway.
Approximately 120 delegates from all 16 SADC member States are expected to attend, including representatives from standards, accreditation, metrology bodies, Government, private sector organisations and technical experts.

The primary focus of the meetings will be to tackle common trade barriers, which include significant divergences in national standards, complex conformity assessment procedures, and a lack of harmonised technical regulations.

In written responses, an Industry and Commerce Ministry spokesperson said Zimbabwe aims to foster greater regional co-operation in key areas such as standardisation, accreditation and technical regulation.

“Addressing Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs) is projected to significantly boost intra-SADC trade, driving increased economic growth and job creation. By reducing trade costs and enhancing market access, we aim to improve the competitiveness of SADC businesses.

“Harmonisation of standards and regulations will also attract increased foreign direct investment into the region. Furthermore, we anticipate that removing these barriers will substantially increase the ability of SMEs to engage in cross-border trade,” said the ministry.

The meetings will feature discussions on harmonising standards across sectors such as including agriculture, manufacturing, energy, information and communication technology (ICT) and pharmaceuticals.

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Particular attention will be paid to emerging TBTs related to digital trade and e-commerce, recognising their growing importance in the modern economy.

The initiative also extends to inviting companies and SMEs to exhibit their products during the week of the meetings, providing a platform for showcasing Zimbabwean goods to the broader SADC region.

The move is expected to further stimulate trade and investment opportunities.
The ministry said while quantifying the precise scale of business to be generated when trade barriers have been removed is challenging, they anticipate “a substantial increase in both trade volume and value across the SADC region”.

“Research indicates that reducing Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs) can stimulate significant growth in key sectors, including agriculture and manufacturing.

“By fostering a more predictable and transparent trade environment, we will unlock new business opportunities for SADC enterprises. Furthermore, this increased trade will contribute to job creation throughout the region,” said the ministry.

As part of the discussions, delegates will work towards developing strategies to enhance regional co-operation and capacity-building initiatives to facilitate smoother trade flows.

The objective is to create a more predictable and transparent trade environment that will unlock new business opportunities and drive job creation across the region.

SADC has recognised the importance of deepening regional integration and promoting sustainable economic development.
By addressing technical trade barriers, member States aim to strengthen their economies and comply with World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements.