Zimbabwe is preparing to host the 40th Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade summit in Victoria Falls, which will take place over the course of a week, starting on Monday.
The Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Co-operation Structures meetings will involve member states assessing progress in eliminating TBTs and enhancing economic integration.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu stated that the meeting is a key part of ongoing efforts to advance regional trade.
“Addressing technical barriers to trade is crucial for enhancing regional integration and boosting economic growth,” he said.
“Zimbabwe is honoured to host this important event, which will allow member States to collaborate on improving trade facilitation and regulatory harmonisation,” he went on to add.
The SADC TBT Co-operation Structures were created under the TBT Annex to the SADC Protocol on Trade, with the goal of identifying and removing barriers that impede trade both within the region and with global markets, News Day reports.
These structures consist of bodies dedicated to standardisation, accreditation, legal metrology, and regulatory harmonisation.
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi highlighted the importance of promoting trade within the region: “The harmonisation of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures is key to achieving a seamless trade environment in the region,” he said.
“Through this meeting, we will assess progress and strategise on further actions to create a more competitive and integrated SADC market.”
In addition, the meeting will also assess the implementation of the Standardisation, Quality Assurance, Accreditation, and Metrology program at the national level, as well as review reports on the TBT Annex.
Member states will discuss strategies to address existing trade barriers and ensure seamless regulatory alignment.