The 33rd session of the SADC Committee of Ministers of Trade and the 22nd session of the Ministerial Working Group on Regional Economic Integration kicks off today in Lilongwe, Malawi, with a focus on rules of origin, sanitary measures, ratification of the Free Trade Area, and implementation of the Trade and Services Protocol.

According to information advanced by Radio Mozambique, the session of the Committee of Ministers of Trade aims to consider the progress report on the implementation of the Protocol on Trade and its annexes.

On the other hand, the 22nd session of the Ministerial Working Group for Regional Economic Integration, will review the progress report on the implementation of the Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063.

Key issues include a progress report on ratification of the protocol on industry, private sector engagement, value chains, macro convergence, development of a free trade area infrastructure and rules of origin.