Author: Mwangi Gakunga

Time to Reform the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime

Representatives from nine countries in eastern and southern Africa that implement the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime (STR) concluded a two Policy Dialogue in Machakos, Kenya on 6 – 7 August 2024. The dialogue was necessitated by the need to address emerging policy and technical issues facing implementation of the STR and make recommendations to policy…
Read more

Impact of Emerging Risks on Financial Stability

Financial stability is increasingly being tested by emerging Cyber, Fintech and Climate Change risks. These come amidst increased technological innovations in the financial sector to provide financial services efficiently, especially to the financially excluded. Moreover, the entry of non-financial firms into the financial space is increasing competition in the financial sector, reducing the market share…
Read more

Annual Inflation Rate in COMESA Region at 23%

The year on year, inflation rate (annual percentage change) in the COMESA region as measured by the Harmonized Consumer Price Index (HCPI-COMESA) stood at 23.2.% for the month of June 2024, down from 23.7% registered in May 2024. A year earlier, the rate was 29.2%. HCPI-COMESA comprises twelve divisions of expenditure including food clothing housing,…
Read more

Comoros gets training on the use of gender statistics

Moroni, 2 August 2024. The COMESA Secretariat partnered with the Investment Climate Reform (ICR) Facility to organize a three-day training workshop on gender disaggregated data and statistics for Comoros from 31 July to 2 August 2024. The workshop held at Retaj Hotel aimed to equip statisticians, researchers, and policymakers from various sectors with the necessary…
Read more

Empowering Madagascar on the Use of Gender Statistics

Antananarivo, July 26, 2024: Gender statistics are crucial for informed decision-making. They highlight areas where gender disparities exist, ensuring that policies and programs effectively address the needs of men, women, boys, and girls for inclusive social and economic development. In a novel initiative to enhance the collection, analysis, and use of gender-disaggregated data, the COMESA…
Read more

Speech by Dr Mohamed Kadah During the Dissemination Event for Horticulture Value Chains

Speech by Dr Kadah – Dissemination Event for Horticulture Value Chains (002)

COMESA and AKADEMIYA2063 Sign MOU to Support Evidence-based Agri-food System Transformation

Kigali, July 19, 2024 – The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and AKADEMIYA2063 have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support evidence-based policy and program design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) aimed at transforming agri-food systems in the COMESA region. AKADEMIYA2063 Executive Chairperson, Dr. Ousmane Badiane and COMESA Secretary General, Ms. Chileshe…
Read more

Regional Banks’ Staff Trained on Financial Crisis Management and Resolution Strategies

In an initiative to build the capacity of regional financial institutions, the COMESA Monetary Institute (CMI) conducted a virtual training on “Financial Crisis Management and Resolution Framework for Banks and Non-Banking Financial Institutions”, on 8 – 12 July 2024. It was attended by 40 delegates from seven COMESA Member States’ Central Banks namely Burundi, Egypt,…
Read more

COMESA States Participate in Simulation Exercises to Tackle Emerging Pests

In the ongoing battle against agricultural pests, simulation exercises have become a critical component of global plant protection strategies. These scenario-based drills mimic real-world outbreaks, enabling countries to be at the forefront of tackling potential pest infestations. They are especially relevant for emerging pests and have recently been employed by national plant protection organizations as…
Read more

Inaugural COMESA Week to take place in Madagascar

Antananarivo, Sunday, 23 June 2024 – The inaugural COMESA Week will be held in Antananarivo from 24 to 29 June 2024. This initiative is jointly organized by COMESA in collaboration with the Government of Madagascar, aiming to raise public awareness of the COMESA regional integration agenda as the organization begins activities to commemorate its 30th-anniversary…
Read more