Oscar J Jeje- Zim Now Reporter
The European Union, in partnership with the Southern African Development Community, has launched a €25 million regional programme aimed at enhancing trade competitiveness, improving market access, and accelerating intra-African and Africa–EU trade.
The Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme, co-implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), was unveiled during a technical partners’ meeting in Lusaka.
It forms part of a broader €200 million continental initiative under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and supports the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“This programme will help address non-tariff barriers, strengthen quality infrastructure, and enhance competitiveness across key value chains,” said Victor Djemba, UNIDO’s Director for the Africa Regional Division.
The SADC component of the programme is designed to support structural transformation through improvements in trade facilitation, enterprise upgrading, and regional industrial value chains. Target beneficiaries include small and medium-sized enterprises, youth-led businesses, and women entrepreneurs.
Aïssatou Diallo, ITC’s Senior Coordinator for Africa, underscored the programme’s human impact: “We are focused on generating decent jobs, boosting women’s economic empowerment, and enabling youth participation in cross-border trade.”
The EU Delegation to SADC stated that the initiative aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the AfCFTA’s goals of regional integration and sustainable industrial development.
SADC Director of Industrial Development and Trade, Dhunraj Kassee, called for increased private sector involvement, noting that “engagement with business and industry players is vital to tailor interventions that truly respond to market needs.”
The programme also aims to harmonise quality standards and regulatory frameworks, promote the use of accredited testing and certification services, and enhance the competitiveness of locally produced goods in both regional and international markets.
According to the EU, the ATCMA initiative is expected to play a critical role in reducing trade costs, expanding productive capacities, and ensuring greater participation of African economies in global value chains.
The Lusaka meeting marked the formal start of implementation for the SADC region, with similar programmes already underway in other regional economic blocs, including ECOWAS, COMESA, EAC, and ECCAS.
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