The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has advised that Zambia should specialize in its own products to have a comparative advantage against bigger market players and be part of a wider value chain in the region.
COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe says this should be the longer term vision that the country should be looking at to avoid being confined to its own market.
A Business Consultant told Money FM News earlier that Zambia’s industry is still in its infancy and may not compete favorably against other industries in the region if the country ratified the Africa Continental Free Trade area Agreement.
Ms. Kapwepwe says this is a natural concern for most countries buts says they can still participate in a market access where they speacialise in their own products.
She was speaking in an interview with Money FM News in Lusaka.
President Edgar Lungu signed the Framework agreement to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement during the just ended 32nd Heads of States and Government Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Christopher Yaluma says Government will not ratify the recently signed Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement until further consultation is done with the Zambian people.
He said it will be after consultation with the citizenry that the ACFTA ratification proposal will be tabled in parliament and Cabinet as required by the Zambian law.

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