COMESA to speed up transformative agenda

By BENEDICT TEMBO

WITH potential trade value of US$100 billion, COMESA is poised for growth following the just- ended transformative summit in Kenya.
The summit in Nairobi may go down in the annals of the regional economic community for setting a bold roadmap for regional trade.
Held under the theme “Leveraging Digitisation to deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth,” the summit among other highlights adopted the recommendations of the COMESA Business Forum for deepening regional integration.
Attended by four Presidents, three Prime Ministers, one Vice-President, a number ministers of Foreign Affairs, ministers of Trade and Ambassadors, the chairperson of the AU Commission, Secretary of the African Continental Free Trade Area, development partners and development organisations, the summit discussed and adopted the need to accelerate the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area which came into force last year on July 25, which effectively created the largest integrated market in Africa.
Dev Haman, the Assistant Secretary General of Comesa, said the summit also endorsed the free movement of business persons as well as encouraged the signing of mutual agreements to facilitate trade in agricultural products.
Dr Haman said Zambia and Malawi have already signed but urged all countries to sign as it has potential to increase trade amongst themselves with an estimated value of almost US$100 billion.
He said most countries are not taking advantage of the low hanging fruit but are blocking trade through non-tariff barriers and strict