• Participation of SME’s at the training is timely in trying to have a stepping stone towards African Continental Free Trade Area.
• ATO enable SMES to have a knowledge on where they can export their products.
• We try as much as possible to encourage the small and medium enterprises to make use of this platform.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Business Council says there has been an overwhelming response from Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) towards the African Trade Observatory (ATO) platform training being held in Lusaka.

CBC Business Development Manager Hopewell Musundire told Money FM News in an interview on sidelines of the CBC-International Trade Centre Market analysis using the ATO workshop, that participation of SME’s at the training is timely in trying to have a stepping stone towards African Continental Free Trade Area, as the institution is unpacking how SMEs and Manufacturers can get relevant market information so that they export their products locally and to the region.

Mr. Musundire explained the ATO enable SMES to have a knowledge on where they can export their products, how much is being imported currently as well as key requirements of exporting their products to that destination.

He said this enables them to make relevant decisions so that they tap into the region market.

Mr. Musundire explained that CBC tries as much as possible to encourage SME’s to make use of the ATO platform to export their products considering Intra-COMESA trade is low.

“As you might know that our Intra Africa Trade or Intra COMESA trade is low, we try as much as possible to encourage the Small and Medium Enterprises to make use of this platform so that they can export their products that is the whole essence that we are trying to achieve” he said.

According to him, “The response of Small and Medium enterprises has been overwhelming and we are happy about it.”