BY NOSIPHO MABUZA
EZULWINI — The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) calls for bold reforms to unlock AfCFTA’s potential.
Regional experts, policymakers, and private sector representatives convened in Ezulwini for the Ad Hoc Expert Group Meeting (AEGM) on Advancing Intra-Regional Trade in Southern Africa through Addressing Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers. The dialogue, hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA) in partnership with the Government of Eswatini, called for decisive action to eliminate persistent barriers undermining trade and industrialization in the region.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Eunice Kamwendo, Director of ECA SRO-SA, highlighted that despite progress, non-tariff barriers (NTBs) continue to stifle Southern Africa’s trade competitiveness. “NTBs increase trade costs by up to 30 percent and create uncertainty that disrupts value chains,” she said. “Removing them is not just a trade facilitation issue, it is a strategic industrial policy measure.”
The meeting is taking place ahead of the 31st Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE), under the theme Unlocking AfCFTA’s Potential, Building Value Chains and Overcoming Barriers to Trade in Southern Africa. Delegates are examining how regional mechanisms like SADC, COMESA, and the AfCFTA’s NTB Reporting and Monitoring Platform can be strengthened to accelerate reforms.
ECA data shows that intra-regional trade in Southern Africa accounts for only 21–23 percent of total trade, despite protocols aimed at liberalizing markets. Participants agreed that harmonizing standards, simplifying customs procedures, and enhancing digital trade tools are vital for small businesses, especially those led by women and youth, to thrive in regional value chains.
Ms. Kamwendo cited the East African Community’s success story where coordinated NTB reforms reduced cargo clearance times from 20 days to as little as four. “We can replicate such efficiency here in Southern Africa if we act collectively and with urgency,” she emphasized.
The AEGM aims to produce actionable policy recommendations to guide the region’s trade reforms and ensure alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063.
“The time for analysis is over,” Ms. Kamwendo concluded. “Let this meeting set in motion concrete, time-bound actions that make cross-border trade in Southern Africa seamless, affordable, and inclusive.”
( Courtesy Pic)
