COMESA has launched the World Bank-funded Inclusive Digitalization for East and Southern Africa (IDEA) Programme which aims to empower 180 million people with internet access and provide digitally enabled services to 100 million people over the next eight years. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Technology and Science of Zambia, Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, launched the programme alongside, World…
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Preparations for the development of COMESA’s 2026–2030 Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) have commenced with a two-day retreat for management and technical staff in Lusaka, held on March 24–25, 2025. The retreat’s agenda focused on reviewing the performance of the current 2021–2025 MTSP, identifying successes, challenges, and key lessons to inform the next five-year plan. Leading…
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Most Member States do not compile high-frequency measures of gross domestic product (GDP). If they do, the estimates come with a considerable lag, yet policy decisions need to be made often, particularly when major shocks such as COVID-19 pandemic or climate related shocks have occurred. This has inspired the COMESA Monetary Institute to come up…
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The COMESA Secretariat has learnt with deep sorrow about the passing on of Madam Monique Andreas Esoavelomandraso, a member of the COMESA Committee of Elders from Madagascar. She died on Monday 17th March 2025 in Madagascar. Head of the Governance, Peace and Security Unit Dr Oita Etyang revealed that upon being appointed to the Committee…
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COMESA and the Government of Kenya launched the first-ever Compendium of Environment Statistics for Kenya, on 20 March 2025, a vital resource that consolidates key data on environmental conditions, natural resource use, waste management, disasters, human settlements, and environmental policies. Developed by COMESA through its EU-funded Eleventh European Development Fund (EDF-11) Institutional Capacity Building Program…
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The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has taken a significant stride toward digital transformation with the successful conclusion of a three-day technical scoping workshop for the Safe Digital Boost for Africa (SDBA) Programme. The workshop, held from 4 – 6March 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, brought together key stakeholders to chart a course…
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The Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP) has successfully concluded after a four-year implementation period. Funded by the 11th European Development Fund, the €8 million programme aimed to enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agro-processing, horticulture, and leather value chains across the COMESA region. RECAMP’s impact has…
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The complexities of managing a financial crisis are often heightened by external shocks, such as commodity price fluctuations, particularly in countries heavily reliant on these resources. These challenges underscore the importance of implementing best practices to prevent financial crises and enhancing crisis management tools to mitigate their negative impacts. This is especially relevant for low-income…
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COMESA was among the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) that participated in the Group of Twenty (G20)’s first meeting to be chaired by an African nation held on 20 – 21 February 2025. Under South Africa’s leadership, the inaugural G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in Johannesburg, attended by ministers from the member countries, representatives…
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Egypt, Turkey, and France Ambassadors to Zambia have been accredited as representatives of their respective countries to COMESA. In a brief ceremony at the COMESA Secretariat in Lusaka Monday, February 10, 2025, the three presented their letters of credence to Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, marking a new chapter in international cooperation. H.E. Ms. Mayada…
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