Malawi, Zambia Ink Trade Pact to Boost Cross-Border Commerce

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has hailed the signing of a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on Conformity Assessment between Malawi and Zambia, calling it a major step towards enhancing cross-border trade.

The pact was signed on August 11 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka, with Malawi’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Engineer Vitumbiko A.Z. Mumba, representing the country alongside Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Mtolo Phiri.

Minister Mumba said the agreement will foster efficiency, trust, and smoother trade flows by enabling both nations to recognise each other’s conformity assessment systems.

“This Agreement is more than trade facilitation—it strengthens trust between our quality institutions, boosts confidence in standards, and lays a firm foundation for industrial growth, competitiveness, and consumer protection,” he said.

Mumba added that the deal aligns with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and encouraging free movement of goods and services.

Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Mtolo Phiri, noted the MRA will directly benefit farmers, traders, and consumers by cutting trade barriers and lowering costs.

“It opens markets for our agricultural produce while saving time and resources for our farmers and traders,” Phiri said.

COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe, through her Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Dr Mohamed Kadah, pledged ongoing technical support to ensure the agreement’s effective implementation beyond donor funding.

The MRA, backed by COMESA in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, covers maize, groundnuts, beans, rice, soybeans, and sorghum products expected to drive regional trade growth.