Sustainable agriculture is an essential factor to advancing trade within COMESA and the rest of Africa. Over the last two decades, Africa has remained a net food importer, with agricultural accounting for about 60% of Africa’s total trade in agricultural products. Furthermore, agricultural product imports account for around 13% of total imports. The COVID-19 pandemic…
Read more
Consolidated list of measures that Member States have put in place in response to COVID-19. Measures in COMESA MS in Response to Covid-19, Vol 16
Lusaka, Tuesday, July 28, 2020: The COMESA Secretariat has developed a draft COVID-19 Regional Food and Nutrition Security Response Plan to improve agricultural productivity, enhance access to competitive markets and trade in agri-food commodities in the region. Implementation of the Plan is expected to create synergies and complement existing initiatives in the region and Member…
Read more
Lusaka, Friday, 24 July 2020: Selected Permanent Secretaries (PSs) from the Zambian Government, their representatives and members of the civil society have been sensitized about the COMESA Early Warning System Vulnerability Assessments (COMWARN SVAs) strategy and the Continental Structural Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment (CSVRA). The one-day session was conducted in Chisamba, 50 kilometers north of…
Read more
COVID-19 in COMESA_Situational Update #22
Lusaka, July 17, 2020: COMESA has developed an online portal to be used by Member States to exchange information on availability of essential products within the region. This is in response to a directive issued by the COMESA Council of Ministers in May this year to develop the platform to support regional trade, during the…
Read more
World Bank Approves $425 Million Towards Infrastructure Financing The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a total of US$425 million in International Development Association (IDA) financing to support infrastructure development in the Eastern and Southern Africa through the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) and COMESA Secretariat. This funding falls under the Regional Infrastructure Financing…
Read more
Adoption of ICT is Critical in Post Covid-19 Trade Facilitation Programmes in COMESA Region
The COMESA National Federation of National Associations of Women in Business (FEMCOM) Chapter in DR Congo has embarked on a $2,300,000 project to support women in business. Among the businesses earmarked include production and marketing of local fresh foods and smoked foods, fruits and vegetables. Others are value-added agricultural products and those involved in the…
Read more
It’s close to two months since COMESA developed and issued guidelines for movement of goods and services across the region during the COVID-19 Pandemic. During this period, there has been a notable adherence to the guidelines and the advisories provided by World Customs Organisation (WCO) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at…
Read more
