Zambia Holds Key Workshop on Coordinated Border Management and Inter-Agency Regulation

The Government of Zambia, through the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, is advancing its efforts to implement the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement, specifically Article 8 on Border Agency Cooperation. 

This initiative, which is part of a broader strategy for Coordinated Border Management (CBM), aims to streamline regulatory border agencies to just six.

In a recent workshop held on August 19, 2024, Mrs. Margaret Chikuba, Director of Domestic Trade and Commerce, highlighted the crucial role of the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) and a multi-agency technical working group in developing the CBM Model. 

She emphasized that their collaborative efforts are pivotal in creating a more efficient and coordinated border management system.

“The World Customs Organisation (WCO), through its Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, supported by the World Bank, has been a key partner in this process. Their support focuses on several practical areas essential for effective CBM,” Mrs. Chikuba noted.

The primary objective of the workshop was to finalize the Draft Inter-Agency Standard Regulation Framework on CBM. 

Establishing this legislative base is a significant step towards the proposed repeal of the Border Management and Trade Facilitation Act, ensuring the successful implementation of Coordinated Border Management in Zambia.