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ZAMBIA

Since November 2020, entry into force in April 2021, last amended in 2023

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Exclusion from public procurement
Public Procurement Act No. 8, 2020
According to Art. 39.4 of the Public Procurement Act, a procuring entity must use open international bidding when goods, works, or non-consulting services are not competitively available from at least three suppliers within the Republic of Zambia. Furthermore, Art. 39.5 stipulates that participation in open international bidding is open to all bidders, including citizen bidders, local bidders, and foreign bidders partnered with citizen bidders or citizen suppliers. Foreign bidders participating under Subsection 5 are required to partner with a citizen supplier or citizen bidder.
Coverage Horizontal

ZAMBIA

Since November 2020, entry into force in April 2021, last amended in 2023

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Exclusion from public procurement
Public Procurement Act No. 8, 2020
According to Art. 41 of the Public Procurement Act, procuring entities must use open national selection as the default method for procuring consulting services. However, open international selection must be used in cases where (i) consulting services are not competitively available from at least three suppliers within the Republic of Zambia; (ii) regional or international participation is required under an agreement entered into by the Government; or (iii) the procuring entity operates in a specialised industry, and the consulting services needed are of a specialised nature.
Coverage Consulting services

ZAMBIA

Since November 2020, entry into force in April 2021, last amended in 2023

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Public Procurement Act No. 8, 2020
Section 91 of the Public Procurement Act establishes a preference and reservation scheme for citizens or local suppliers, as well as bidders offering goods, works, or services with local content. Certain procurement opportunities are also reserved for target groups, including SMEs, women, youths, and persons with disabilities. Additionally, greater preference is granted to joint ventures or associations involving citizens or local suppliers than to foreign suppliers subcontracting them. The margin of preference to be applied is not predetermined; instead, it is set by the Public Procurement Authority in collaboration with the Citizens' Economic Empowerment Commission and other relevant government departments and statutory bodies in each tender procedure.
Coverage Horizontal

ZAMBIA

Since 2018

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
National Local Content Strategy 2018-2022
According to the National Local Content Strategy 2018-2022, government policy mandates a minimum of 35% utilisation of local inputs and/or products in the production and provision of goods and services across the economy.
Coverage Horizontal

ZAMBIA

N/A

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Signatory of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) with coverage of the most relevant services sectors (CPC 752, 754, 84)
Lack of participation in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
Zambia is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), nor does it have observer status.
Coverage Horizontal

ZAMBIA

Since July 1994, last amended in November 2017

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Companies Act, 2017 (No. 10 of 2017)

Companies Act (Amendment) Act, Cap 388, 1994
According to the Companies Act 1994 and its amendment, the Companies Act 2017, there are no restrictions on foreign ownership in sectors relevant to digital trade.
Coverage Horizontal

ZAMBIA

Since July 1994, last amended in November 2017

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Nationality/residency requirement for directors or managers
Companies Act, 2017 (No. 10 of 2017)

Companies Act (Amendment) Act, Cap 388, 1994
According to Art. 303 of the Companies Act 2017 (No. 10 of 2017), a foreign company is required to appoint at least one local director. This requirement has been in effect since the Companies Act of 1994 (Art. 248).
Coverage Horizontal

YEMEN

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Yemen has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.
Coverage Horizontal

YEMEN

Reported in 2020, last reported in 2025

Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Self-certification for product safety
Reported exclusion of SDoCs and requirement for foreign test reports
It is reported that the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology (MoTIT) requires foreign test reports, including electromagnetic compatibility results such as CE reports, as part of its mandatory type-approval process for products entering the Yemeni market and complying with local telecommunications and safety requirements. Approval is based on the review of these foreign test reports, and Yemen is understood to accept documentation demonstrating compliance with the EU Radio Equipment Directive, together with CE declarations of conformity, as sufficient evidence. Although a declaration of conformity must be submitted, in-country testing is reportedly not required. The categories of devices subject to MoTIT type approval include mobile and cellular devices, mobile wireless communication equipment, radio-frequency devices, Internet of Things products, wireless-enabled consumer electronics, GPS units, wearable technologies and short-range devices. However, the specific legislative instrument containing these requirements has not been identified.
Coverage Electronic products

YEMEN

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Lack of de minimis threshold
Yemen does not implement any de minimis threshold, which is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties.
Coverage Horizontal

YEMEN

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Restrictions on domain names
Local presence requirement for domain name registration
Yemen does not have a specific law regulating domain name registration. In practice, domain name administration is handled by TeleYemen, a state-owned company supervised by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology (MoTIT), which manages the “.ye” country-code top-level domain (ccTLD). It is reported that registration of a “.ye” domain requires a local presence in the country, which may be arranged through authorised local representatives or specialised registration services for applicants based abroad.
Coverage Horizontal

YEMEN

Since September 2008

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Law No. 46 of 2008 on Consumer Protection
قانون رقم ( 46 ) لسنة 2008م بشأن حماية المستهلك
Law No. 46 of 2008 on Consumer Protection provides a comprehensive framework for consumer protection that also applies to online transactions. According to Art. 4 of the Law, its provisions apply to all transactions and contracts related to goods and services offered through both traditional and modern means of trade, including electronic commerce that involves the processing and transfer of electronic data and information via computers, email, telegram, fax, photocopying, the Internet, or any other newly developed means recognised internationally or locally.
Coverage Horizontal

YEMEN

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Ratification of the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Lack of signature of the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Yemen has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.
Coverage Horizontal

YEMEN

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Yemen has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.
Coverage Horizontal

YEMEN

N/A

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place for copyright infringements
A basic legal framework on intermediary liability for copyright infringement is absent in Yemen's law and jurisprudence.
Coverage Internet intermediaries

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