Lesotho Hosts Second Training Workshop for MSMEs on Trade Facilitation and Regional Integration

On 17 September 2025, Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development (MTIBD) and with support from the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), held the second training workshop for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at Victory Hall. The workshop aimed to sensitise MSMEs on how to leverage trade facilitation initiatives and trade agreements to increase their participation in regional and international trade.

While MSMEs play a key role in Lesotho’s economic development through job creation, income generation, and cross-border trade, their engagement in regional and international markets remains limited. Challenges such as lack of awareness and insufficient capacity to utilise trade facilitation tools have hindered broader participation.

The workshop highlighted the importance of empowering MSMEs to understand and benefit from major regional and international trade agreements, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Southern African Development Community–European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Participants were introduced to tools that improve market access, reduce trade costs, and enhance competitiveness. These include the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Simplified Trade Regimes (STRs), the EU REX System, and the EU Origin Facilitator.

This initiative forms part of the Regional Value Chains Lesotho (RVCL+) project, co-funded by the European Union (EU) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project is managed by the MTIBD and implemented by GIZ under the Cooperation for the Enhancement of SADC Regional Economic Integration (CESARE) programme. By equipping MSMEs with the knowledge and tools to navigate trade agreements, the workshop supports the expansion of Lesotho’s regional and international trade and strengthens the competitiveness of its small businesses.