The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) celebrated its 30th anniversary alongside the 45th Meeting of the COMESA Council of Ministers in Lusaka, Zambia. The commemorative events highlighted the organization’s achievements and future aspirations in fostering regional integration and economic growth.
Zambia’s Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, presided over the Council of Ministers meeting on Thursday, 28 November 2024, while Burundi’s Minister of Commerce, Transport, Industry & Tourism, H.E. Marie Chantal Nijimbere, the current chairperson of the COMESA Council, led the anniversary celebrations.
A panel discussion held on 27 November 2024 brought together heads of 12 COMESA specialized institutions, as well as two former and the current Secretaries General—Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya, and Ms. Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe. They reflected on COMESA’s transformation from the Preferential Trade Area of Eastern and Southern Africa to a regional economic powerhouse.
Key achievements include the development of innovative trade facilitation tools such as the regional customs guarantee scheme and the yellow card system, which have become benchmarks across the continent. Over three decades, intra-COMESA trade has grown steadily, reaching $14 billion, while the combined GDP of member states has surged from $90 billion in 1994 to $1.13 trillion, accounting for a third of Africa’s GDP.
Addressing the Council, Vice President Nalumango acknowledged COMESA’s progress in regional integration and economic growth, emphasizing the need for more efforts in value addition. She highlighted frameworks for trade facilitation, digital transformation, and gender inclusion as instrumental in advancing shared goals.
Looking ahead, she urged COMESA to focus on climate-resilient technologies and strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change, such as droughts, floods, and extreme weather patterns that threaten food security, socio-economic stability, and job creation, particularly for youth.
“This milestone signifies COMESA’s relevance, endurance, and commitment to fostering the regional integration agenda to contribute towards the development of the Africa we want,” said Vice President Nalumango.
She also lauded the progress of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area, which came into force in July 2024. She emphasized the need for innovative solutions, cross-border policy approvals, and strengthened partnerships to secure a brighter future for the region.
COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe detailed the organization’s efforts to enhance efficiency across borders through automation of customs operations, digitalization of procedures, and improved coordination among border agencies. She also noted initiatives to strengthen regional agri-food systems, reduce post-harvest losses, promote food safety, and enhance agricultural commodity exchanges.
Ms. Petra Gasporova, Deputy Head of Delegation for the EU Zambia Office, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting COMESA. She recognized the operationalization of the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement as a significant milestone, underscoring COMESA’s pivotal role in driving Africa’s integration agenda.
As COMESA reflects on its 30-year journey, the focus remains on leveraging its achievements to address emerging challenges and furthering its mission to create a prosperous, integrated, and sustainable Africa.
STATEMENT BY MRS. W. K. MUTALE-NALUMANGO, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
Speech by H.E. Marie Chantal Nijimbere, Minister of Commerce
STATEMENT BY THE COMESA SECRETARY GENERAL
Statement by the EU Representative