MORE than 500 delegates are expected to attend the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ)’s fourth public procurement annual conference which kicks off today in Victoria Falls.
The two-day event is expected to deliberate on ways to enhance knowledge and understanding of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework and its implications for sustainable procurement practices across Africa.
In a statement, Praz said the conference seeks to foster collaboration and partnerships among African nations, businesses and stakeholders to develop a unified approach to sustainable procurement under AfCFTA.
“The objective of the conference is to enhance knowledge and understanding of the AfCFTA framework and its implications for sustainable procurement practices across Africa.
“To explore the potential opportunities within the AfCFTA for implementing sustainable procurement strategies that support environmental, social, and economic goals.
“To foster collaboration and partnerships among African nations, businesses, and stakeholders to develop a unified approach to sustainable procurement under AfCFTA and to develop a strategic road map for integrating sustainable procurement into the broader goals of AfCFTA, ensuring long-term impact and alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.”
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According to Praz, the conference’ key outcome would be the creation of a strategic road map that aligns sustainable procurement with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 ensuring lasting impact and advancing Africa’s long-term development objectives.
However, this comes as several Zimbabwean micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) have taken advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand their African footprint.
The 54–member bloc, with a combined GDP of over US$3,4 trillion, opened in January last year with a plan to remove duty on 90% of goods originating from the continent.
It aims to deepen African trade and economic integration.
In 2022, AfCFTA secretary general, Wamkele Mene visited the country and highlighted that the southern African nation has huge potential and can be competitive in a number of areas.
“There are potential export benefits for Zimbabwe as the country can be competitive in a number of areas. Currently it is one of the largest exporters of tobacco and as of yesterday I was informed that the country is now entering the pharmaceutical sector as well as producing oxygen,” she said.
Zimbabwe has submitted the tariff offer to the AfCFTA secretariat for technical verification in line with the agreed modalities for trade in goods.
This follows the completion of the process of revising Zimbabwe`s tariff offer taking into account the preliminary comments raised by the AfCFTA Secretariat.
Eight countries — Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Egypt, Mauritius, Cameroon and Tunisia – begin trading under a guided trade which seeks to test the operational, institutional, legal and trade policy environment of the AfCFTA, to allow commercially meaningful trading and to send a positive message to African economic operators and firms about the AfCFTA.