Private sector Resolutions presented by Raphael Maganga - CEO TPSF during the Zambia Tanzania Business Forum 2023 in Lusaka Zambia.


	Your Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of The United Republic Of Tanzania,
	Your Excellency Hakainde Hichilema -The President of the Republic of Zambia, 
	Dr. Ashatu Kijaji  - Minister of Trade and Industry,
	Ministers Present 
	DG Zambia Development Authority
	President of Zambia Chamber of Commerce 
	Business executives, 
	Media team
	Ladies and gentlemen, 

  Good afternoon!!!


Your Excellencies, First and foremost, allow me to express our heartfelt gratitude to both of you for gracing the Zambia-Tanzania Business Forum 2023, themed "Scaling Trade and Investment between Tanzania and Zambia." Your presence here is a testament to your unwavering commitment to the private sector in fostering trade and investment between our two nations.

Your Excellencies; From the majestic peaks of Kilimanjaro to the sweeping plains of Zambia, from the iconic Serengeti where lions roam and wildebeests race, to the picturesque landscapes of Zanzibar, and the awe-inspiring beauty of the mighty Zambezi River as it flows into the magnificent Victoria Falls – all these elements tell the shared story of our two nations uniting across these vast lands.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our hosts, the Zambia Development Authority, for their steadfast support in bringing this forum to life. The organization of this business forum has been made possible through the remarkable collaboration of the private sector and the government. 

Your Excellency; Despite the challenges brought about by the global pandemic, we have witnessed the resilience of our bilateral trade supported by strong growth in the agriculture, manufacturing,  transport and logistics sector as well as mining sectors. On behalf of Tanzania's private sector, we commend our two governments for their exemplary policy direction and commitment to creating an enabling business environment for trade and investment, all of which have contributed to this remarkable recovery.

Zambia and Tanzania share deep-rooted historical bonds, with our bilateral relations firmly grounded in the shared history of the liberation struggle. Now, we are in the process of liberating our economies, a feat that necessitates close collaboration between our private sectors and our governement. 6 key questions come to mind,  How do we remain competitive in the post-pandemic era? How do we safeguard our economies from global shocks? How do we sustain our economic growth to remain among the fastest-growing economies in Africa? How are businesses factoring the impacts of climate change and making them sustainable? How are we positioning to take advantage of the Africa Continetal Free Trade Area? How are food systems ensuring we become a food basket? Your Excellencies, we note that both countries are guided by Either the Tanzania Development Vision 2030 or Zambia Vision 2030, which all aim to attaining prosperous middle-income nation status by 2030. 



To answer these questions, our private sectors from both countries convened and resolved the following:

1.	On the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), we recognize the immense potential of this 1.3 billion-strong marketplace and have resolved to strengthen our policies to fully leverage its benefits.
2.	To collaborate with the private sector to develop key strategical infustructure and highways linking our great countries such as the Trans-Africa Highway and the North south Corridors. 

3.	Both countries have made progress in the agriculture sector, and we recognize the potential to become the food baskets of Africa. Our policies must be stable, predictable, and facilitative, fostering collaboration. Together, we can feed Africa and the world,
4.	Strategically use our corridors from Dar es Salaam port all the way to Zambia, making it the most efficient corridor hence to increase our competitiveness in the region,
5.	Border agencies co-operation and intergration of system is critical for increasing operational efficiency, facilitating legitimate trade and reducing traders costs at cross-border levels between between our countries hence increase government revenues, 
6.	Predictability of policies to ensure a stable business environment that will continue to stimulate private sector growth,
7.	Joint Permanent Commisions and Bilateral Meetings to regularly meet and streghthen its decision making mechanism which will enable it to resolve recurring Non- Tarrif Barrier, 
8.	To further strengthen our bonds, Tanzania Investment Centre have signed several MOUs that promise increased collaboration,  and today we will witness the signing of the MoU Between Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and Tanzania Investment Center (TIC) for cooperation  in investment promotion and facilitation including exchange of investment related information. The Mou among other things will lay down the mechanisms and modalities of cooperation in all areas of promotion and facilitation of investment in Tanzania and Zambia. 


In closing, Your Excellencies, these resolutions demonstrate our commitment to advancing our economies and deepening our partnership. We believe that by working together, the private sector and governments of Tanzania and Zambia can unlock immense potential and drive prosperity for our people. Let us move forward with determination and a shared vision for a brighter future. Thank you. Write a summary write up