ZDA launches Exporters survey Report

By Daily News Reporter

Zambia Development Agency (ZDA)has launched a survey which is an important report which highlights the performance of exports in particular, nontraditional exports (NTES) and the factors affecting exporters and exports, the survey is aimed at informing policy and strategy formulation in order to improve exports The Agency undertakes the exports survey annually in order to assess the performance of Zambia‘s Non-traditional exports (NTES) and propose interventions in addressing the identifies And in the report it shows that in 2023 the agency linked 283 exporters from various sectors to export markets.

From the linkages $98.3million worth of export leads and $3.7million confirmed orders were reordered mainly from the agro-processing, chemicals and manufacturing sectors.

Furthermore through Zambia export development fund (ZEDF), the agency provided trade financing amounting to$582,692 to four exports in the manufacturing, mining and agriculture sector And speaking during at the launch in Lusaka ZDA BOARD CHAIRPERSON PROF. BIEMBA MALITI stated that these interventions indicates that the agency has continued unweaving support in promoting and facilitating trade particularly the of growth of NTES

And Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry CHIPOKA MULENGA MP, stated that Government is yielding dividend as evidence by increase in NTES from 3.52 billion in 2022 to $ 4.23 billion in 2023, representing an increase of 20.2 percent.

The share of NTES to total exports in 2023 stood at 40.6 % signifying an over achievement against the 8 NDP annual target.

He further said that the economy has also demonstrated resilience and steadily growth from 3.6 percent in 2021 to 5.8 percent in 2023.

The government is cognizant of some the challenges exporters are experiencing which includes high cost of doing business, export bans, bureaucratic export process, and high export duties in target markets.

Government has put in place incentives specifically for exporters operating in the special economic zones in order to attract more export oriented investments, reduce the cost of production and enhance competitiveness of businesses,” Chipoka said.