adminIntegration and International Co-operation has said.
At World Trade Organisation level, the country has so far partially liberalised three sectors namely telecommunications, financial services and tourism.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Regional Integration and International Co-operation Mr Tadeous Chifamba said that the country could soon extend its liberalisation of services to other sectors.
“Zimbabwe is doing fairly well in the regional market in the telecommunications, finance and banking and tourism sectors.
“Zimbabwe has a potential to perform better across a wider range of services industries that can also include health and education services,” he said.
Currently negotiations on liberalisation of trade in services are being done at WTO, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Southern Africa Development Community, ACP-EU and Tripartite level.
Meanwhile, the ministry has said it is in the process of engaging industry on Zimbabwe’s proposed tariff reduction structures for the tripartite free trade area ahead of its implementation in 2014.
The arrangement is being made after industry recently revealed that Zimbabwe is not ready for the TFTA following its launch last month to pave way for the merger of East African Community, Sadc and Comesa into a single trading organisation.
“Government has an interest in ensuring that there is a balance between protecting the local industry and protecting the consumer
“It should be noted that where there is no competition there is a high risk that producers exploit consumers,” said Mr Chifamba.
He added that the proposals from industry would assist the Government in ensuring that Zimbabwe enjoys a huge market share in the free trade area.In terms of the free trade zone, member countries are expected to harmonise regional trading structures.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter