The value of Intra-COMESA total exports declined by 11% from US$ 10.9 billion in 2019 to US$ 9.7 billion in 2020. The low performance was attributed to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic and pre-existing factors such as supply-side challenges and prevalence of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs). According to an update presented at the ongoing 37th Meeting…
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COMESA and the UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office (UN Women ESARO) have organized a two-day webinar to mark the International Rural Women’s Day, that falls on 12 October. The event is aimed at utilizing the Day’s celebrations to disseminate the findings of two studies that were conducted by UN-Women, during the period…
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COMESA has conducted a study, which reviewed Member States policies related to the formalisation of the informal economy, focusing on informal trade. The study focused on the drivers of informality, the impacts of informality on the economy, including on government revenue and on productivity. It also identified the policies that Member States have instituted to…
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COMESA has commissioned EUR 100,000 worth of equipment under its Green Pass (GP) Certification Scheme in Luangwa District of Zambia, to facilitate small-scale cross border trade in fish. The procurement of the equipment was funded under the 11 European Development Fund (EDF) Small Scale Cross Border Trade Initiative (SSCBTI) Programme. The equipment was commissioned on…
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There is fresh attempt to revitalize the COMESA Customs Union agenda, which will result in the full realization of the Common Market. The COMESA economic integration timetable envisaged the attainment of the Customs Union by 2004, but this has since faced headwinds that has stalled the programme. As a result, COMESA Secretariat has called for…
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COMESA countries have come together to deliberate on ways to cushion the youth in the region from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 in the region. Subsequently, a two-day experience-sharing meeting and mitigation was conducted on 28 -29 September 2021. In attendance were young people, youth experts from governments led by Permanent Secretaries, and representatives…
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The Yellow Card Council of Bureaux is set for full autonomy following the approval of the relevant legal instruments, by the Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General from COMESA Member States. In their 10th meeting conducted virtually on 29 September 2021, the Ministers and AGs approved the Charter of the Bureaux, Staff and Procurement Rules.…
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Trade experts from Member States concluded a three-day virtual meeting, Thursday 30 September2021, which reviewed progress on the liberalization of trade in services for enhanced market access under the COMESA Free Trade Area. The meeting was the 10th for the COMESA Trade in Services Committee. It received updates from Members States on the progress they…
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One of the challenges people face in developing countries is access to health facilities owing to long distances. Overcrowding by patients seeking medical assistance in the available health facilities is quite prevalent, while in some far-flung rural areas, people barely have access to health personnel. This is what inspired Billy Munyenyembe, a final year student…
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COMESA has trained its Trade Information Desk Officers (TIDOs) that serve in selected borders in the region, on how to implement the Simplified Trade Regime and ensure the minimum standards for the treatment of small- scale cross border traders are upheld. The training was conducted on 23 September 2021 as part of capacity building for…
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