The Southern African Development Community (SADC) held a training workshop for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their understanding of the development and implementation of Standard and Technical Regulations. The workshop was held from 12 to 14 December 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Participants in this workshop were trained on the importance of compliance to standards and technical regulations for trade as tools to enable them to penetrate new and international markets. Topics included auxiliary skills in Standards, Quality assurance, Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) principles. Participants also learned more about trade opportunities for MSMEs created by different Free Trade Areas such as the SADC, Tripartite and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The workshop provided participants with information on where, in their respective countries, MSMEs can get assistance to increase the chance of penetrating new markets. It also served as a platform to connect MSMEs in the region and, therefore, expand the possibility of doing business beyond their borders.
The event demonstrated the commitment of the EU-SADC Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) to bolstering a significant number of MSMEs in the region, enabling them to explore export opportunities and play a role in fostering job creation and alleviating poverty.
The TFP is supporting SADC to implement the Protocol on Trade effectively. This training capacitated MSMEs to penetrate markets beyond their borders by improving their production for domestic and international markets and complying with rules governing international trade.
The SADC Protocol on Trade (2005), as amended, provided for the establishment of a Free Trade Area in the SADC Region. Its objectives are to further liberalise intra-regional trade in goods and services, ensure efficient production, contribute towards improving the climate for domestic, cross-border and foreign investment, and enhance economic development, diversification and industrialisation of the region.
MSMEs are amongst the most critical drivers of successful economies in many parts of the world as they contribute to revenue and job creation for their countries.
To facilitate the participation of regional producers, with a specific focus on MSMEs, in the opportunities presented by trade agreements such as the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement(EPA), African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), it is imperative to ensure the availability of adequate expertise, facilities, and accessibility to standards and quality services. Essential components for effectively implementing a Free Trade Area include adherence to standards and technical regulations and establishing a robust quality infrastructure.
The training wasorganised under the SADC-EU Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP). The TFP is financed by the EU over a five-year programme (2019-2024) with a budget of €15million (US$16.45million).
The objective of TFP is to support the implementation of SADC Protocols on Trade and Trade in Services (and their Annexes) to enhance inclusive economic development in the SADC Region through deepening regional economic integration. This objective corresponds to the general objective of the Revised RISDP 2015-2020 and the various Protocols that constitute the basis of SADC’s regional integration Agenda. The programme is expected to increase intra-regional trade flows by supporting trade facilitation and implementation of the EU-SADC EPA.
