• The Trade Mission will be characterized by business to business meetings with buyers from DR Congo.
• DR Congo is Zambia’s largest market with a number of Zambian products.
• ZDA uses trade missions as a strategy for exploring potential international business opportunities

Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) says it will take 52 export ready Zambian businesses and exporters on a Trade Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to help secure market access for their products.
Agency Communications and Public Relations Manager Laura Hamusute disclosed to Money FM News that the trade mission will be in collaboration with the Finnish government funded Accelerated Growth for Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Zambia, ABSA Bank Zambia and Federation des Enterprises du Congo.
Ms. Hamusute stated that the objective of the Trade Mission which will take place on 20th October, 2021 is to facilitate the growth of Zambia’s Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) and secure market access for Zambian products.
“The Agency hopes to penetrate, consolidate and expand the Congolese market for Zambian products. The DR Congo Trade Mission is part of the implementation of the N8 + 1 Export Plan to increase Non-Traditional Exports in the region,” Ms. Hamusute explained.
She added that targeted sectors for the program are agriculture, agribusiness, agro processing, building materials, textiles, garments, mining supply services, engineering services and products among others.
Ms. Hamusute further said findings of the last research the Agency undertook revealed that Congo is Zambia’s largest market with a number of Zambian products with potential for penetration, expansion and consolidation.
“ZDA will during the three day Trade Mission from October 20 to 22, 2021, introduce Zambian companies to the Congolese business environment and importers, generate trade leads and trade transactions. The Trade Mission will be characterized by business to business meetings with buyers from all over DR Congo alongside an exhibition in Lubumbashi, where the Zambian companies will showcase their product,” she added.
She further said the Agency uses trade missions as a strategy for exploring potential international business opportunities, adding that such programs also help create networks of buyers, agents, suppliers and key government contacts in target countries.
And ZDA Acting Director General Albert Halwampa says the Agency is impressed with the enthusiasm shown by President Hakainde Hichilema in prioritizing promotion of trade and investment in regional and international markets.
“ZDA has realigned its strategic focus in tune with the New Dawn Government to focus on the regional and continental markets such as the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DR Congo Trade Mission is therefore ZDA‘s first call of duty in line with the New Dawn Government’s pronouncements to accelerate Zambia’s economic growth through increased Exports,” he said.