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COMESA STUDIES COVID-19 IMPACT ON ECONOMIES

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

A more practical and inclusive study on the impact of Covid-19 on economies in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states is currently underway.

The study being conducted by COMESA is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, according to Assistant Secretary General, Kipyego Cheluget.

Dr Cheluget said this would be the second study conducted by the trade division in the COMESA secretariat with the first one undertaken last year.

“We have also done a study on the impact of Covid-19 on the economies of the COMESA and it is devastating because there are a lot of people who have lost their jobs, they are just home waiting for the pandemic to be over.

“We are still continuing in out studies. We have another on-going study which is more inclusive, more practical. We hope to complete that study maybe towards the end of this year,” he said in interview on the side-lines of the COMESA Business Council’s 2nd Digital Financial Inclusion Public Private Dialogue.

Dr Cheluget hoped that measures put in place by the governments in the region would see member states fight the pandemic wave and come out stronger as Covid-19 was a serious problem.

Meanwhile, Dr Cheluget urged Zambia and other countries in the region to take advantage of the COMESA digital platform to continue trading amid Covid-19.

The platform has been created following the directive by the council of ministers last year.

Dr Cheluget said through the platform traders could exchange information related to goods and services available across the borders.

“As a response to Covid-19, last year our council of ministers directed us to come up with a digital platform where members’ states can share information regarding goods and services as well as the pandemic.

“Despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic, we have this initiative to ensure our traders can continue to trade and promote regional integration,” Dr Cheluget said.

He said COMESA is also implementing a programme dubbed the 50 Million African Women Speak (50MAWSP) platform which uses technology to empower women by providing them with the information they need to start or grow their businesses.

Dr Cheluget said the platform has been created in COMESA and allows women as far as east Africa and Economic Community of West African States to exchange information related to trade.

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