Author: Muzinge Chibomba

Stakeholders Consult on Implementing the Regional Customs Guarantee Scheme in Zambia

A national consultative meeting on the implementation of the COMESA Regional Customs Transit Guarantee (RCTG) Scheme was conducted with key stakeholders in Zambia on Thursday 25 August 2022. The one-day session updated the stakeholders on the status of implementation and operations of the RCTG in the region and discussed issues and concerns raised about the…
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e-COMESA Newsletter 698

e-COMESA Newsletter 698

Trade Facilitation Programme Records Notable Progress

COMESA Member States, through the European Union-backed Trade Facilitation Programme have revised and adopted regulations for the elimination of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), a move which is expected to enhance intra-regional trade. The programme has also supported the development of national elimination strategies for NTBs in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Madagascar and Egypt.  The programme has equally…
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Regional Horticultural Observatory Programme Developed

The Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) has developed the COMESA Horticultural Observatory Programme which will be used to engage multi-stakeholders in the horticultural industry on how to sustainably increase exports, value addition and retention of the industry. ACTESA, which is the agriculture arm of COMESA, worked closely with the Bill…
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Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade Initiative Extended by 31 Months

The European Union (EU) has granted a no-cost extension to the Small-Scale Cross Border Trade Initiative (SSCBTI) programme by 31 Months. The Project will now end in December 2024 from the initial deadline of May 2022. Assistant Secretary General for Administration and Finance Dr Dev Haman revealed this in Lusaka during the opening of the…
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Rwanda Reaffirms its support of COMESA

Rwanda has reaffirmed its support of regional integration programmes being implemented by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). His Excellency Paul Kagame says his government believes that integrating African countries is a sure way of attaining economic prosperity and development. He said this at State House in Kigali on 2nd August when…
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Over 40 Students Enroll for COMESA Masters in Regional Integration Program

Forty-Seven students are currently enrolled for the COMESA Masters in Regional Integration (MRI) Programme, currently offered by the Kenyatta University in Kenya and the University of Mauritius. Out of these, 39 students have received COMESA scholarships supported by the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). The scholarships were…
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Steps Towards Establishing an Electronic Single Window System

The Electronic Single Window System (eSW) is one of the key trade and transport facilitation instruments prioritized by most of the COMESA Member States to improve the ease of doing business environment and to enhance intra-regional trade in region. In 2017, the COMESA Council of Ministers decided that Member States should adopt a harmonized and…
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Climate Change Experts Give Final Nod to Resilience Plan; Share Best Practices on Adaptation

The COMESA Regional Resilience Implementation Plan and Resource Mobilization Strategy is nearing completion following final review by experts in climate change, resilience, disaster risk reduction and management, drawn from 14 Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the African Union Commission. At the same time, country focal points for the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) from…
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