Zambia and Angola Strengthen Economic Ties Through MSME Partnerships

Zambia and Angola have taken a significant step towards enhancing bilateral economic relations by focusing on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development. This strategic cooperation aims to unlock new trade and investment opportunities across borders, particularly through shared learning, infrastructure, and access to regional markets.

Speaking during a joint MSME engagement held on the sidelines of the 40th Luanda International Trade Fair (FILDA), Zambia’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Mrs. Subeta Mutelo, emphasized the importance of positioning MSMEs to take full advantage of continental platforms such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Lobito Corridor.

“Our SMEs have so much to gain from peer learning with Angolan counterparts,” Mrs. Mutelo said. “From product branding to quality enhancement, the potential for collaboration is immense. We must also learn from global best practices in value addition and sustainability.”

Mrs. Mutelo noted the need for inclusive and innovative solutions to address cross-border challenges such as language barriers.

“We’ve agreed to explore a shared learning platform that supports communication, pricing knowledge, negotiation, and technical skills transfer,” she added.

Echoing Zambia’s commitment, Bráulio Augusto, representative of Angola’s National Institute of Small and Medium Enterprises, praised the initiative as a step toward building a stronger economic bridge between the two countries.

“Our collaboration must focus on synergies in agriculture and value-added sectors. Angola is ready to facilitate Zambian access to our market while welcoming more Angolan products into Zambia,” he said.

The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, with support from the Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project, organized the Trade Mission to Angola, which featured 20 Zambian businesses engaging in exhibitions and B2B meetings.