In partnership with UNDP, the Zambian Government has launched a Rapid COVID-19 Business Survey whose objective is to provide comprehensive and evidence-based data about the socio-economic situation of micro, small, medium-sized and large enterprises affected by the COVID -19 crisis in Zambia.

The objective of the survey is to learn about the socio-economic situation of, micro, small, medium-sized and large enterprises affected by the COVID -19 crisis in Zambia, in order to inform the formulation of relevant policies and propose comprehensive impact mitigation and recovery actions aimed at improving their economic condition and situation in the market.

The purpose is underpinned by the need to inform the formulation of relevant policies and propose comprehensive impact mitigation and recovery actions aimed at improving their economic condition and situation in the market.

With the Zambian economy projected to grow by a negative 2.6% in 2020 from the earlier projection of 3.6%, strong policy interventions are required to support the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic and keep the wheels of the economy running to ensure that necessary basic necessities are provided.

To achieve this, Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry (MCTI) Honourable Christopher Yaluma, indicated that “Government through the Minister of Finance, announced a number of fiscal measures aimed at making it smooth to import certain essential products needed in our daily lives. And through my ministry, government is also facilitating the importation of certain products which are inputs in the production of essential goods required by the Zambian market. All these measures are aimed at providing support to ensure the economy does not ground to a halt”.

With support from UNDP Zambia Country Office, MCTI will conduct the Rapid Business Survey on both the industrial and trade sectors which includes Large, Small and Medium enterprises and Cooperatives located in all 10 provinces in a bid to Leave No-One Behind. The survey is aimed at ascertaining the extent of how productivity is slowing down and traded goods in terms of domestic sales and exports are recording significant reductions.

Speaking at the launch, UNDP Resident Representative, Lionel Laurens underscored that, “as part of the UN global response to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations System in Zambia is presently in discussion with the Ministry of National Development Planning and the Ministry of Finance to determine the scope and depth of the overall assessment and agree on a roadmap that will be jointly implemented under the leadership of the Government and in close collaboration with cooperating partners and other stakeholders such as the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), the civil society and the private sector”.

This survey is designed by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme.