Angola Set to Join SADC Free Trade Area

Angola is set to join the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Free Trade Area following a forum held in Luanda from 17 to 21 February 2025 to assess its entry into the regional trade bloc.

According to the SADC Secretariat, Angola’s accession will unlock significant economic opportunities, including reduced trade tariffs and the elimination of non-tariff barriers, enhancing its regional trade prospects.

Speaking at the forum, SADC Secretariat Director of Industrial Development and Trade, Dunraj Kassee, emphasized that the Free Trade Area is a key driver of economic growth, attracting investment and strengthening regional integration.

With Angola’s inclusion, the SADC Free Trade Area will now have 14 member states.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has been part of the Free Trade Area since signing the amended SADC Protocol on Trade in 2005, aimed at enhancing regional trade and economic cooperation.