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The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has called on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives to seize opportunities presented by the Lobito Corridor trade facilitation to access local, regional, and international markets.
ZCSA Executive Director Gerald Chizinga emphasized the importance of ensuring that products meet certification standards before entering these markets.
He made the remarks during a courtesy visit to Solwezi Town Clerk Stanley Mbewe on Thursday in North Western Province, which coincided with the ongoing Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation project assessment and training.
Chizinga noted that many agricultural sector cooperatives and SMEs struggled to access broader markets due to a lack of certification by quality institutions.
He highlighted that Solwezi and North-Western Province offer significant growth potential in areas such as small and medium-scale agro-processing, with products like peanut butter, maize meal, and edible vegetable oils.
Chizinga appealed to the Solwezi Town Clerk’s office for support in educating the public about the importance of producing and consuming safe products to safeguard public health.
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He assured that the ZCSA had personnel on the ground conducting routine product monitoring to ensure both locally manufactured and imported goods adhere to safety standards.
The Executive Director encouraged the business community to engage ZCSA early in their production processes to ensure compliance with manufacturing standards, facilitating not only access to local markets but also enabling expansion into international markets.
Meanwhile, Mbewe acknowledged the ZCSA’s crucial role in ensuring the quality and safety of products in the market, contributing to public health and economic growth.
He expressed readiness to support the Agency’s efforts within the Solwezi jurisdiction.
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