By 
The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, in partnership with the Ministry of Small Medium Enterprises, has signed a US$240,000 agreement to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) along Zambia’s Lobito Corridor.
The agreement aims to incubate SMEs in key industrial areas in Solwezi, Kitwe, and Ndola, located within the corridor.
Permanent Secretary, Lillian Bwalya, representing the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, and Subeto Mutelo, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of SMEs, signed the agreement during a ceremony held in Lusaka on Thursday.
The agreement outlined the implementation of a nine-month incubation programme designed to strengthen SMEs and cooperatives in the Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces.
The programme would provide training in the Solwezi, Kitwe, and Ndola industrial yards, helping businesses develop sound practices that improve product pricing, quality, and market specifications.
Bwalya emphasized that the initiative was part of the broader Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) with a funding allocation of US$8.1 million.
This project aims to enhance trade within the Lobito Corridor, which includes Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“The project’s primary goal is to facilitate both domestic and cross-border trade, while also providing vital support to SMEs and cooperatives in the region,” Bwalya said.
The agreement also targets the long-term growth of SMEs by providing them with the necessary resources and support to mature and eventually thrive independently.
Bwalya noted that many SMEs currently lacked the business acumen needed to scale up, and the incubation programme aimed to fill this gap.
Meanwhile, Mutelo highlighted the broader impact of the initiative, stating its role in fostering innovation, creating jobs, and strengthening Zambia’s industrial capacity.
“This collaboration is key to empowering local entrepreneurs and building economic resilience, not just in Zambia, but within the entire Lobito Corridor,” Mutelo said.
In addition to the incubation efforts, the agreement included market surveys across Zambia, Angola, and the DRC to identify in-demand products and opportunities for SMEs to tap into export markets.
The initiative would also focus on developing and certifying industry standards to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs in the region.
“By understanding market demands and aligning with export opportunities, SMEs along the corridor will gain access to new markets, boosting their growth and sustainability,” Mutelo added.
The collaboration between the two ministries aims to create a robust environment for SME development, offering critical support that would help transform Zambia’s small businesses into medium-sized enterprises capable of competing in regional and international markets.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments