Zambia, DRC ink deal to enhance cross-border trade
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia yesterday signed a cooperation agreement to facilitate cross-border trade under regional bloc Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Ministers from the two counties discussed a draft collaboration framework and action plan that has been developed with the aim of finding long-term solutions to challenges facing transporters.
DRC Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Interior and Security, Peter Kazadi, in opening remarks reiterated Congo’s commitment to finding lasting solutions to the problems linked to the Kasumbalesa border point.
“The incessant calls from transporters in the SADC network about the difficulties they encounter daily in carrying out their activities have reached our ears,” said Kazadi.
“DRC is concerned about this situation, which is hampering the smooth flow of trade between our two countries. We have agreed to work together with Zambia and find a lasting solution to this situation,” he added.
According to him, the meeting between the transport and trade ministers “is an important step in the realisation of the commitment of our two states, with the support of SADC, to overcome the obstacles hindering trade and cross-border traffic within our region”.
Kasumbalesa is the second busiest land border crossing in the SADC region after Beitbridge which is between South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is located at a point where several of the region’s trade corridors converge.
These include North-South Corridors, Dar es Salaam Development Corridor, Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor, Beira development Corridor and Lobito development Corridor.
Several trucks often wait for long hours before crossing the Kasumbalesa border point.
Zambia’s Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Jacob Jack Mwiimbu also stressed the need to implement effective border management between the two countries and SADC region as a whole, adding that Kasumbalesa border point serves the entire region. – The East African
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