By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –
Government should manage the regional trade agreements under the Southern African Development Community and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa without disadvantaging the local industries.
AFIL Engineering Limited says this is to ensure that whenever there is a surge in imports of goods due to low tariffs offered under the free trade area, appropriate measures are introduced to protect the domestic industry from collapse and ensuing loss of employment.
AFIL Engineering Limited, formerly Lusaka Engineering Company, has specialised in the manufacture of various types of trailers, fuel tankers, steel furniture and building accessories for the domestic market in the past 10 years.
The company produces heavy and light duty trailers and fuel tanks under the brand name AFIL and Maxi loader.
AFIL business development manager Sajeev Nair said at the 90th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show that there was need to safeguard local industries.
“The sector will urgently require support in form of safeguard measures for longer duration, particularly to address the surge in imports of new and used trailers that is adversely affecting the domestic sale of trailers, securing of jobs in the sector, value addition in a priority economic sector, and domestic savings in the form of foreign exchange due to import substitution,” Mr Nair said.
