SADC Set to Address Trade Barriers in Victoria Falls

Next week, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold a pivotal five-day conference in Victoria Falls, focusing on overcoming trade barriers and enhancing regional economic cooperation.

From March 24 to 28, 2025, stakeholders from across the SADC region will convene at the Peniel Retreat Centre in Victoria Falls for the 40th SADC Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Cooperation Structures meetings. The high-level event, organized by the SADC Secretariat in partnership with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, will bring together government representatives, regulatory bodies, industry leaders, and technical experts.

The primary aim of the meeting is to accelerate the harmonization of standards, improve quality assurance, and enhance trade facilitation within the 16-member bloc.

At the heart of the discussions is the SADC Protocol on Trade, which seeks to eliminate regulatory barriers to trade, fostering a more seamless flow of goods and services across the region. Key topics will include the progress of the SADC TBT Cooperation Structures, which focus on standardization, accreditation, legal metrology, and technical regulations. These frameworks are essential for aligning regional standards with global benchmarks, strengthening the recognition of conformity assessments, and enhancing measurement compliance to ensure fair and efficient trade practices.

Participants will also assess the ongoing implementation of the Standardisation, Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM) Programme. This review will include updates on the TBT Annex and discuss future strategies to better align SADC policies with global trade requirements.

As intra-African trade continues to grow, particularly with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), this SADC initiative is seen as a significant step toward creating a more integrated and competitive market. By reducing technical trade barriers, the bloc aims to attract investment, support local businesses, foster industrial growth, and open new doors to international markets.

This meeting in Victoria Falls marks a crucial moment in SADC’s efforts to boost regional trade and economic cooperation, paving the way for stronger, more sustainable growth within Southern Africa and beyond.