IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/cwk/ajocsk/2025-83.html

Effects of Trade Liberalization Strategies on Competitiveness Among Small Medium Enterprises in Ndola District, Zambia

Author

Listed:
  • Margaret Beenzu

    (Graduate School of Business, University of Zambia)

  • Kabundula

    (Graduate School of Business, University of Zambia)

Abstract

This study examines the effects of trade liberalization strategies on the competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ndola District, Zambia. Using a mixed‑methods approach that combined quantitative surveys of 195 SME owners/managers and qualitative interviews with 25 participants, the study assessed tariff reductions, non‑tariff barrier reductions, exchange rate policies, market access initiatives, and foreign direct investment (FDI) incentives. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics including regression analysis while qualitative responses were analyzed thematically. Results show that tariff and non‑tariff barrier reductions significantly improved SME competitiveness through increased market share and cost savings, although exchange rate volatility and limited FDI access constrained performance. Regression results indicated a moderate positive correlation (R=0.500) explaining about 25% of the variance in SME competitiveness. The study recommends targeted policy support, improved financing access, and streamlined regulatory frameworks to strengthen SME participation in liberalized markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Margaret Beenzu & Kabundula, 2025. "Effects of Trade Liberalization Strategies on Competitiveness Among Small Medium Enterprises in Ndola District, Zambia," African Journal of Commercial Studies, African Journal of Commercial Studies, vol. 6(4).
    • Handle: RePEc:cwk:ajocsk:2025-83
    DOI: 10.59413/ajocs/v6.i4.10
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ijcsacademia.com/index.php/journal/article/view/298
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.59413/ajocs/v6.i4.10?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:cwk:ajocsk:2025-83. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Charles G. Kamau (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://ijcsacademia.com/index.php/journal .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.