Tanzania, Zambia resolve eight trade barriers to facilitate business: official

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania and Zambia have resolved eight out of the 24 trade barriers between the two neighboring countries to facilitate business, an official said Wednesday.

Hashil Abdallah, the permanent secretary of the Tanzanian Ministry of Industry and Trade, announced the resolution of the eight trade barriers at the end of a joint meeting of senior officials that addressed business challenges facing the two countries.

Abdallah, during a news conference in the port city of Dar es Salaam following the meeting held in Songwe Region, said one of the resolved trade barriers involves reducing truck congestion at the Tanzania-Zambia border in Tunduma. He added that the remaining 24 trade barriers between the two countries will be resolved before Dec. 31 of this year.

Abdallah said the meeting had reached an agreement that products exported from Tanzania to other countries via Zambia, with all the necessary permits, should be permitted to pass through Zambia en route to their respective destinations. He also noted that Tanzanian products with permits should not be subjected to inspections in accordance with trade agreements under the World Trade Organization and the Southern African Development Community.

Lillian Bwalya, the permanent secretary of the Zambian Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, said her country has agreed to address business challenges to facilitate and promote cross-border trade between the nations.