AFREXIMBANK LATEST PUBLICATIONS

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AFREXIMBANK LATEST PUBLICATIONS

Are you interested in knowing more about how African Trade has fared amidst the Covid-19 pandemic? The latest Afreximbank Research publications examine trade and economic developments in Africa and other parts of the world during 2020 and 2021, containing relevant papers presented at conferences or seminars internally organized or externally held and many other interesting topics.

To access the full collection, visit the Publication website https://www.afreximbank.com/research-and…/publications/

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WESTERN PROVINCE TOURISM INVESTMENT AND TRADE EXPO2022

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INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WESTERN PROVINCE TOURISM INVESTMENT AND TRADE EXPO2022

Dear Members,

This may be of interest to some of you. Please contact the organisers directly if you wish to attend, and or, exhibit.

To participate, register online at www.wes.gov.zm/expo. Kindly confirm your participation not later than 31st July, 2022 to secure your place. For more information contact the Help Desk on +260977394234 or +260975210218. We look forward to your participation.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday Celebration

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday Celebration

British High Commissioner to Zambia Nicholas Wooley and Energy Minister Peter Kapala were in attendance at Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday celebration help in Lusaka on May 24, 2022.

Her Majesty’s birthday attracted key people including senior government officials, foreign dignitaries, members of the business community, members of the press and many more.

Open consultation: Designing the UK trade preferences scheme for developing nations

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Dear Members,

The UK Government is seeking views on proposed changes to the trade preference scheme which reduces or removes import tariffs for 70 developing countries. 

Please go to https://ditresearch.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_71Uup1kN0ZhD8tE where you will find the Consultation page.

Further details are:

We want to know what you think about proposed changes to the UK’s trade preference scheme. This is currently known as the UK Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP).

In particular, we want to hear your views on:

  • rules of origin requirements for least developed countries (LDCs)
  • reducing tariffs for low income and lower-middle income countries
  • the approach to goods graduation, which suspends reduced rates on some goods
  • the conditions and reporting requirements for low or lower-middle income countries

The new UK preferences scheme (the Developing Countries Trading Scheme) will take effect in 2022.

Consultation documents

We would prefer to receive responses using our online questionnaire tool.

The statement of direction provides details on the policy proposals.

The information pack sets out technical information and policy background on the UK GSP.

ZDA STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETING

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BCCZ members are cordially invited to attend the stakeholder’s engagement virtual zoom meeting on the electronic Rules of Origin where the Zambia Revenue Authority shall raise awareness and carry out step-by-step training on how to use the system.

Kindly share the link with your colleagues up to a maximum of eighty (80) participants to enable them participate.   

The virtual zoom meeting will commerce at 09:00 – 13 hours on 22nd February 2021 as per the attached public notice

ZRA Host is inviting you to join the scheduled Zoom meeting by clicking the link below OR right-click the link and select Open Hyperlink.

https://zoom.us/j/98935417485?pwd=TU0zdlZ5WFkwaGI2THJ4YVUrSmVXQT09

WEBINAR EVENTS: COMMUNICATION IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

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WEBINAR EVENTS: COMMUNICATION IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

In the last BCCZ Webinar event, members discussed how the communication landscape has changed since the outbreak of COVID-19, and how best businesses can best position themselves with the right communication strategy.

The discussion ranged from innovation in the face of adversity, communication clarity and choosing the right platform for companies to communicate their messages.  Here are some of the key items that were discussed:

Creativity and Innovation are the key commodities

Now more than ever, the premium is in the communication strategy a company employs and that means adapting to the new normal through creativity and innovation. This is simpler for some brands than others, but it is still an opportunity for all companies with a bit of ingenuity.

Social Media will play an important role in vital brand communication

With print newspapers cutting print runs, during this period, social media will be the one channel of communication that will probably not experience a slowdown. Now is the time to double down on your digital strategy, and maximize the ways consumers can interact with you online.

Communication needs to be empathetic

At this time, while people are uncertain about what is happening, and what to expect, being empathetic to their needs and fears will let you be more understanding as to what type of messages will be appreciated.

Putting employees first before your bottom-line

At this time, it’s hard to balance the books, with less income. But now’s the time to consider employee welfare above the bank balance.

Inform

Providing updates and information in this time of uncertainty can help ease anxiety, and assist people in adapting their way of life. From working away from the office to homeschooling, people are finding their lives disrupted. Brands can help tackle that.

Brand equity and perception of your company have never been more important

One of the things your company is best positioned to do during this time is to help. Working from home, brick-and-mortar stores closing, and a run on some essential goods are causing constant disruptions large and small. Offering a helping hand when a client or customer is feeling overwhelmed will not only show them you are a caring, capable company, it’s the right thing to do.

It’s not easy to get the message right, and many companies will stumble on their way. The important thing is to develop a plan with these ideas in mind, move forward, and be ready to learn along the way. The Chamber is helping counsel members across a range of industries on how to communicate in ways that are authentic and effective.

 

We welcome your questions or insights on your own experiences.

URGENT! Commonwealth Points of Light Awards

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URGENT! Commonwealth Points of Light Awards

Dear members,

Please be advised that the British High Commission have asked members of the chamber to help identify nominees from Zambia for the Commonwealth Points of Light Award.

What is the Points of Light Award?

The Points of Light awards recognise outstanding volunteers – people whose service is making a difference in their communities and whose story can inspire others to creative, innovative solutions to social challenges in their own communities and beyond.

So far Zambia has had two recipients of the awards:

  • Michelle Chimuka – The founder of the ‘Sani Foundation’ which supports the inclusion of people with learning disabilities in society.
  •  John Zimba – A Chevening Alumnus and teacher by profession who founded the Chiparamba Trust in Chipata district. The Trust runs a community school that helps raise literacy levels in the community. All staff at the community school work on a voluntary basis.

We would like you to nominate individuals you feel are deserving of the award.

These individuals must be providing solutions to social challenges on a voluntary basis (without getting any allowance or pay for their work).

Suggestions should be sent by email to Tresford Mumba [Tresford.Mumba@fco.gov.uk] in the form of a 200-300 word submission which includes:

  1. A brief biography of the individual;
  2. A description of their volunteering activity;
  3. Relevant statistics of how many people in their community they are inspiring or supporting with their work;
  4. Details of their impact and innovation;
  5. And if possible a high quality landscape photograph. 

Awards Package

Winners will receive a personalised certificate signed by The Queen and wherever possible, the High Commissioner will present the certificate, on behalf  of The Queen. Winners will also be linked with existing Points of Light in the UK and America to share best practice and inspire others.

Kindly note that at this stage you don’t have to inform your nominees that they are being considered for the nomination.

Deadline for nominations is close of business on 8th August 2019.

We sincerely apologise for the short notice.

For any queries or clarifications please contact Tresford on Tel: +260 211 423 200 or Tresford.Mumba@fco.gov.uk

 

Sales Tax vs VAT – Best Way Forward

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Sales Tax vs VAT – Best Way Forward

On Tuesday 16th October 2018, the British Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Economics Association of Zambia hosted several sector experts, academics, members of the press and other stakeholders at a public forum discussion to explore the 2019 national budget and dissect the proposed introduction of Sales Tax to replace the long standing Value Added Tax (VAT).

Panelists on the night included;

  • KPMG Zambia – Head of Tax and Partner, Michael Phiri
  • International Growth Centre (IGC), Twivwe Siwale
  • Consumer Unit Trust Society (CUTS) – Coordinator, Chenai Mukumba
The event was attended by a capacity crowed of 300 people from various sectors.  Unfortunately representatives from Ministry of Finance and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) were unable to attend.

VAT OVER SALES TAX

Following detailed presentations and open floor discussions, the general consensus was that Value Added Tax is the more effective tax system compared to the proposed Sales Tax.

However, the meeting agreed that despite having an edge over Sales Tax, the Value Added Tax system was imperfect and needed some fine tuning (such as making supplies to the mines zero rated to avoid the subsequent problem of refunds) to maximise the system’s efficacy.

There were concerns about the cascading potential of Sales Tax and whether it would achieve an objective of widening the tax base.
Once details about the Sales Tax system have been created, there will be need to hold another public discussion, hopefully with Government representatives present to help address the above mentioned concerns.
Below are the three main presentations that were made by KPMG, CUTS and IGC available for download:
Like and follow the British Chamber of Commerce Facebook page and website for updates on this and other trade related issues. 

Business Regulatory Review Agency [BRRA]: 2016 T0-Date

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Business Regulatory Review Agency [BRRA]: 2016 T0-Date

The British Chamber of Commerce recently joined the Business Regulatory Review Agency (BRRA) in hosting a multi-stakeholder event in Lusaka earlier this week. The event was designed to, other things, provide a snapshot of BRRA as an entity, its main achievements and challenges since inception as well as a regulatory impact assessment report and short-to-medium term focus covering the next three (3) years.

Below is a summary of Business Regulatory Review Agency Director, Sharon Sichilongo’s keynote address:

BRRA INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

  • In 2008, Government appointed a Business Licensing Reform Committee (BLRC) whose mandate was to steer implementation of comprehensive business licensing reforms.
  • The BLRC report highlighted that Zambia had a weak regulatory and policy formulation system with limited or no consultation with stakeholders. This resulted in policy and regulatory frameworks that had adverse impacts on private sector development.
  • The report further highlighted that failure to harness and effectively use Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) to streamline licensing processes and develop integrated systems resulted in cumbersome, bureaucratic, inefficient and costly business registration processes.
  • The findings and recommendations of the BLRC provided the basis for government to initiate
  • Business reforms aimed at improving the business environment.
  • One such reform was the enactment of the Business Regulatory Act no. 3 of 2014 as a vehicle for providing a legal framework to govern business regulation and implement recommendations by the BLRC.
  • The BRRA was established as a Statutory Body under Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI) by the Business Regulatory Act.

MANDATE OF BRRA

The mandate of BRRA is to:

  • Review and approve proposed policies and laws that affect business activity to ensure they are legitimate and serve the intended purpose; and
  • Coordinate development and implementation of appropriate regulatory interventions in order to improve the delivery of regulatory services and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses.

FUNCTIONS OF BRRA

  • Reviewing and approving proposed policies and laws that affect business activity;
  • Developing and coordinating the implementation of Regulatory Services Centres;
  • Facilitating the development and implementation of Single Licensing Systems for regulating business activity;
  • Managing and updating the e-Registry;
  • Issuing guidelines and standards for Regulatory Impact Assessments and undertaking Public Consultations;
  • Building capacity in Regulatory Agencies in Regulatory Impact Assessments; and
  • Monitoring and evaluating the business regulatory environment.

MAJOR PROGRAMMES UNDERTAKEN

  • The following major programmes and activities were undertaken:
  • Review of Regulatory Impact Assessments
  • Regulatory Environment Monitoring
  • Development and Publication of RIA Standards and Guidelines
  • Development and Publication of RIA Handbook
  • Coordination of Regulatory Services Centres
  • E-registry
  • Single Licensing
  • Capacity building in RIA
  • Sensitisation and Awareness

REGULATORY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Section 6 of the Act provides as follows.

  1. A public body shall only submit to Cabinet for approval a policy or proposed law to regulate business activity if that policy or proposed law has the prior approval of the Business Regulatory Agency.

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  2. A public body that intends to introduce any policy or proposed law for regulating business activity shall:

(a) Give notice in in writing to the Agency, of the intention to introduce or review a regulatory framework or policy regulating business activity, at least two months before submitting it to Cabinet.

(b) hold public consultation for at least thirty (30) days with:

1) Persons or proprietors of business enterprises who shall be affected by the proposed regulatory frameworks;

2) Persons or proprietors of business enterprises who shall benefit from the proposed regulatory

frameworks;

3) Regulatory agencies and other public officers who will implement the proposed regulatory frameworks;

4) All other relevant stakeholders

REGULATORY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

  • The Agency has reviewed and approved seven (7) RIAs reports since June 2016 from various institutions. These include:
    • ZNBC
    • CCPC
    • ZICTA
    • WARMA
    • Ministry of Transport and Communication
    • Health Professions Council of Zambia
    • PACRA
  • Received 11 notifications which are currently at different stages.

REGULATORY SERVICES CENTRES (RSCs)

  • A Regulatory Services Centre (RSC) is a One Stop Unit established to facilitate one-stop compliance with multiple regulatory requirements by multiple Regulatory Agencies under one roof in order to provide for an efficient and effective business regulatory clearance system.
  • The RSCs are aimed at streamlining business registration procedures and reducing the time it takes to comply with business regulations by offering the services of various Regulatory Agencies under one roof.
  • The RSCs also serve to increase accessibility of business regulatory services as well as facilitate promotion of investment.

REGULATORY SERVICES CENTRES (RSCs)

  • The BR Act No. 3 of 2014 provides for establishing and operationalizing an RSC at least in each Province.
  • Four (04) RSCs have been established and operationalised so far. These are located in Lusaka, Livingstone, Kitwe and Chipata.
  • Assessments for suitable accommodation for RSCs were conducted in Solwezi, Kasama, Mansa and Chinsali.
  • Office accommodation for RSCs was identified in Solwezi and Kasama. The two RSCs have been targeted for establishment and operationalisation by December 2018.

REGULATORY SERVICES OFFERED FROM RSCs

  • Business Name Registration;
  • Company Incorporation;
  • Name Clearance;
  • Registration of trademarks and other intellectual property rights;
  • Tax Payer Identification Number Registration;
  • Tax Clearance;
  • Registration for Preferential Procurement;
  • Employer/Employee Registration;
  • Registration of Suppliers;
  • Registration of Cooperatives;
  • Business Clearance under Local Authorities;
  • Tourism Services; and
  • Online services;

ONE STOP SHOP INTEGRATION SYSTEM (OSSIS)

  • BRRA is coordinating the implementation of the One Stop Shop Integration System (OSSIS).
  • The OSSIS is meant to compliment RSCs by facilitating sharing of information on business regulatory requirements among Regulatory Agencies.
  • OSSIS leverages e-platform in business regulation and facilitates sharing of regulatory requirements from another Regulatory Agency which has already collected those requirements.
  • The OSSIS was successfully piloted from 2016 to 2017 with Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA), Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA).

ONE STOP SHOP INTEGRATION SYSTEM (OSSIS)

  • The OSSIS Strategic Plan for the period 2017-2018 was developed and the OSSIS is being implemented in three stages as follows:
  • Phase I of OSSIS implemented. I.e. Integration of systems for PACRA, ZRA, NAPSA, WCFCB, FIC and ZPPA.
  • Now it takes on average twenty-four (24) hours to comply with PACRA, ZRA and NAPSA from the Regulatory Services Centres.
  • Phase II under implementation. i.e. integration of ZESCO, ZICTA, RATSA, RDA, Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Lands, Department of Immigration
  • Phase III to be implemented by December 2018 i.e. integration of all other relevant regulatory agencies and Local Authorities.

E-REGISTRY

  • Establishment, maintenance and upgrade of eRegistry by BRRA is provided for under Section 8 of the Business Regulatory Act No.3 of 2014.
  • The Act defines the e-Registry as a centralized database and online transaction platform holding
  • information on licenses and regulations including formalities businesses have to comply with, and capable of facilitating the processing of applications online.
  • The e-Registry was set to be implemented in three (03) stages namely:
  • Informational e-Registry – has been implemented.
  • Implementation of back office licence processing system in regulatory agencies
  • Transactional e-Registry – development being supported by the World Bank.
  • World Bank also supporting development of Noticeand-Comment Platform which will facilitate submission of comments online on proposed regulations affecting business.
  • The link for the e-Registry web portal is www.businesslicenses.gov.zm. 9/4/18
  • The e-Registry contains the following information:
  • Texts of relevant laws and subsidiary legislation on business regulation;
  • Name or title of the business licence;
  • Licence period or validity;
  • Licence fees;
  • Downloadable application forms; and
  • Contacts of issuing Regulatory Agencies.

SINGLE LICENSING SYSTEMS

  • The Business Regulatory Act No.3 of 2014 under Section 10 stipulates that there should be established for businesses in each sector or group of businesses in a sector, a Single Licensing System.
  • Single Licensing System means a licensing system designed to facilitate compliance with multiple licensing requirements by multiple regulatory bodies through a single regulatory point or a Regulatory Services Centre (RSC).
  • In other words, it is an integrated approach to processing and issuing all required licenses and permits for businesses operating in a given sector or sub sector.

SINGLE LICENSING SYSTEMS

  • BRRA analysed regulatory frameworks obtaining in the Tourism Sector and established that businesses needed to comply with a minimum of twelve regulatory agencies to obtain a Tourism Enterprise Licence.
  • The agency proceeded to engage Regulatory Agencies to identify gaps and duplications and it came to light that gaps and duplications do exist and Government intervention is needed.
  • BRRA as a coordinating Agency for Single Licensing Systems for various sectors has developed a roadmap for development and operationalisation of the Single Licensing System for the Tourism Sector.

CHALLENGES

  • Low staffing levels compromising the capacity of BRRA to effectively implement programmes;
  • Resistance by some regulatory agencies to mainstreaming of RIA in policy and legislation formulation processes.
  • Some Regulatory Agencies have continued to resist the RSC concept making it difficult to effectively implement RSCs as provided for in the B.R. Act No.3 of 2014;
  • Inadequate funding leading to delayed implementation of key programmes including:
    • Roll out of RSCs to all provinces;
    • Re-development of e-Registry platform; and
    • Development of Single licensing Systems for various sectors.

SHORT-TO-MEDIUM TERM FOCUS (2018-2021)

  • Sensitise and train all Local Authorities in RIA by June 2019
  • Capacity building in RIA for Regulatory Agencies
  • Review of regulatory frameworks in the agriculture sector and propose reforms
  • Roll out RSCs to remaining provincial capitals and selected districts;
  • Increase number of services offered in the RSCs and streamline procedures;
  • Full implementation of OSSIS;
  • To establish a Single Licensing Systems in at least five (05) sectors by 2021 and
  • Redevelopment of e-Registry to include transactional and Notice-and-Comment platform