By Deogratias Mmana:
Ministry of Trade officials and their counterparts in Mozambique are meeting in Tete for legal scrubbing and finalisation of the draft Simplified Trade Regime (STR) framework documents to ease trade for small-scale border businesses between the two countries.
The bilateral legal scrubbing session for the STR framework documents, which is running from September 23 to 27, is aimed at harmonising the text of the framework by ensuring that the two countries have consistency and ensure alignment with their national and regional legal frameworks.
Malawi’s Ministry of Trade Principal Secretary Christina Zakeyu said during the meeting that Malawi remains committed to the success of both implementation of the STR and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) trade policy instruments which, she said, were vital to the strengthening of the two countries’ relations.
“We need to conclude this task so that before the year ends, we should get the framework signed by our ministers and give our small-scale cross border traders an opportunity to start benefitting from the Sadc [Southern African Development Community] preferential trade agreement when importing or exporting goods between Malawi and Mozambique under the STR,” Zakeyo said.
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Zakeyo also urged delegates to the meeting to discuss the implementation of the directive to commence application and piloting of the OSBP concept at either Dedza/Calomue or Mwanza/Zobue border posts or even both.
She said the directive came from Malawi and Mozambique’s presidents Lazarus Chakwera and Filipe Nyusi, respectively, during their talks from August 14 to 15 2024 in Mozambique.
“This was in cognizance of the fact that it is possible for us to explore the possibility of jointly using the completed Malawi OSBP facilities whilst we await the completion of construction works on the Mozambican side,” Zakeyo said.
“We feel this is very important as it will enable us to test the OSBP concept, apply our experiences together particularly from the Mchinji/Mwami border post, where we are implementing the OSBP concept with Zambia, and, more importantly, the pilot will help us to identify any unforeseen challenges and efficiency gains whilst we await the completion of Calomue and Zobue OSBPs as well as the Chiponde/Mandimba and Muloza/Milanje [sites] where construction works are yet to commence,” Zakeyo added.
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High Commissioner of Mozambique to Malawi Herculano Manjate said the adoption of the STR would create a solid basis to boost economic and commercial cooperation, promoting small-scale cross-border traders to clear their goods along the common borders of Mandimba-Chiponde, Zobue-Mwanza, Calomue -Dedza and Melosa- Muloza.
“We are convinced that the legal framework we will finalise today will contribute mainly to facilitating the movement of people and goods, as well as improving the use of competitive opportunities in reciprocal relations, especially the development of the sectors of commerce, industry, agriculture, fishing, among others,” Manjate said.
He said Mozambique chose industrialisation as a priority area in its economic development strategy through the National Industrialisation Programme to increase productivity and economic diversification and improve trade balance while creating more jobs.
“The dynamics of our relations demonstrate our commitment to taking them to a new level as well as reflecting the involvement of the two heads of State in improving the living conditions of both countries through the identification of tangible actions such as the establishment of a facilitation/removal mechanism and trade barriers,” he said.
