Validation meeting on the study to assess the feasibility of establishing and managing a common agro-industrial park between Zambia and Zimbabwe

Abstract

Building on a long history of collaboration, the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe have launched a joint industrialization program to promote structural and economic transformation in the two countries. The two member States have identified the development of a common agro-industrial park as a starting point for industrial cooperation. The COMESA secretariat, with the support of the Sub regional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), retained a consultant to undertake a study to assess the feasibility of establishing and managing a common agro-industrial park between Zambia and Zimbabwe within the context of sub regional efforts to advance industrialization. The draft feasibility study report was reviewed and validated at a virtual regional meeting jointly organized by COMESA and SRO-SA. The present report contains a summary of the discussions and outcomes of that validation meeting. The expected outcomes of the meeting included: enhanced understanding of key issues relevant to the development of agro-industrial parks, including the proposed park between Zambia and Zimbabwe; enhanced knowledge of potential value chain development, related opportunities for micro-, small and medium sized enterprises, including women’s business organizations, the benefits stemming from industrial collaboration, including in the context of agro-industrial parks, and the potential impact on the activities of the proposed agro-industrial park of AfCFTA, the COVID-19 pandemic, green industrialization, e-commerce and the so-called “fourth industrial revolution”.