Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will next week convene a crucial five-day meeting in Victoria Falls aimed at eliminating trade barriers and strengthening regional economic cooperation.
The 40th SADC Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Cooperation Structures meetings will take place from March 24 to 28, 2025 at the Peniel Retreat Centre in Victoria Falls.
Organised by the SADC Secretariat in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the high-level meeting will bring together key stakeholders from across the region, including Government representatives, regulatory bodies and industry experts.
The goal is to accelerate the harmonisation of standards, improve quality assurance and enhance trade facilitation across the 16-member bloc.
At the heart of the discussions is the SADC Protocol on Trade, which aims to promote seamless trade by eliminating unnecessary regulatory obstacles.
The meeting will focus on key areas of the SADC TBT Cooperation Structures, which oversee standardization, accreditation, legal metrology, technical regulations and stakeholder engagement.
These structures work to ensure that regional standards align with international benchmarks, strengthen recognition of conformity assessments, enhance measurement compliance for fair trade practices, and harmonise policies to create a transparent regulatory environment.
The meeting will also review the progress of the SADC Secretariat’s ongoing efforts in supporting Member States in implementing the Standardisation, Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM) Programme.
Discussions will include updates on the review of the TBT Annex and future strategies to align regional policies with global trade requirements.
With intra-African trade increasingly gaining momentum, especially under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), this SADC initiative is seen as a key step towards creating a more competitive and integrated market.
By reducing technical barriers, the bloc aims to attract investment, enhance industrial growth and support local businesses in reaching international markets.
Delegates from all SADC Member States, as well as representatives from regional and international organisations, are expected to participate.
Their discussions will not only shape the future of trade within SADC but also set the tone for broader engagements with global trading partners.
