Lobito Corridor Fuels SME Growth

Key agencies collaborate to build skills for trade and market access

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24  - (11-06-2025) - Four key government bodies under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry have not only committed to equipping Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with crucial skills to harness the benefits of the Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project but also pledged to accelerate SME development along the corridor. 

This initiative aims to unlock new opportunities for trade and economic growth that could redefine Zambia’s regional trade landscape.

At a training module development workshop held in Chisamba, Humphrey Nkobeni, Chairperson of the SME Training under the Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project, explained that the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA), and Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) are working in unison to empower entrepreneurs—particularly in the North-Western and Copperbelt Provinces—to capitalize on emerging trade and value chain prospects along the corridor.

Nkobeni, who is also Executive Director of ZMA, emphasized the vital role SMEs play in driving inclusive and sustainable economic development. 

SMEs account for over 70 percent of employment in Zambia. However, many still face challenges such as limited access to modern business skills, quality assurance tools, market intelligence, and integration into formal value chains.

“The Lobito Corridor is more than just a transport route; it is a springboard for industrialization, regional cooperation, and broad-based economic growth,” Nkobeni said.

“But infrastructure alone cannot deliver prosperity. Real transformation happens when SMEs are equipped to effectively leverage this infrastructure to grow their businesses and improve livelihoods.”

He noted that the workshop is setting the stage for a training programme designed to deliver practical, relevant, and forward-thinking modules tailored to the specific needs of SMEs in the region. 

The training will focus on areas including product standardization, financial literacy, market access, and compliance with regional trade protocols.

Nkobeni further highlighted the importance of fostering women- and youth-led enterprises to ensure that the corridor’s growth is inclusive and benefits all segments of society.

In a statement issued by Brian Hatyoka, Manager – Communications and Relations at ZCSA, the initiative is part of a broader collaborative effort to position the Lobito Corridor as a shared prosperity engine for Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zambia.

In October 2024, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ZCSA, ZABS, ZMA, and CCPC to provide training to more than 40 cooperatives and SMEs operating in agriculture and agro-processing sectors. 

This programme is supported by the African Development Bank under the Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project.

By strengthening the skills and competitiveness of SMEs in strategic sectors such as cassava, honey, and peanut butter, the project seeks to build stronger connections between rural producers and regional markets. 

The goal is to transform the corridor into a vital artery for inclusive and sustainable trade.

This cooperative approach reflects a shared conviction that infrastructure must ultimately serve the people. By investing in SME capacity today, Zambia and its neighbours are laying the groundwork for resilient, homegrown economic progress.