The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) notes that the country’s non-traditional exports have the potential to increase foreign exchange earnings and contribute to job creation.
This was indicated in a press release issued on September 29th 2016, by ZDA.
Zambia’s non-traditional exports include sugar, cotton, coffee, soybeans, maize and tobacco, among others.
ZDA explains that investments in Zambia’s non-traditional exports will help the country diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on copper.
For this, ZDA is focusing on increasing and expanding non-traditional exports by facilitating value-addition and product diversification into existing and new markets.
“This entails partnering with industry in an attempt to promote new products that have an added value and to earn the country more foreign exchange when exported,” ZDA indicates.
According to ZDA’s research, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Africa and Zimbabwe have been Zambia’s top three export markets in the past two years.
DRC provides a large market of about 65m people for agro processed foods owing to their low agricultural productivity, while South Africa is the 2nd largest export market because of its large population of about 56m people.
Zimbabwe is another big market due to its proximity and historical ties that it shares with Zambia.
“Consequently, ZDA has resolved to engage these markets aggressively so as to maintain the country’s foothold in these important markets,” the Agency notes.
The press release concludes: “Increased exports will translate into enhanced local production that will in turn boost foreign exchange for the country as well as create new job opportunities.”
