Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

🌍 Exciting News! 🌍

The COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area will officially come into effect on 25 July 2024! 🎉 With the ratification and depositing of instruments by 14 Member States, this is a monumental step towards regional integration. Stay tuned for more details!

The 6th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union and Regional Economic Communities taking place today 21st July 2024 in Accra, Ghana. The meeting is considering among others, the status of regional and continental Integration, the report on the implementation of the AfCFTA and the coordination and harmonization of AU/REC policies. COMESA is represented by Secretary General, Ms. Chileshe Kapwepwe

Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe has held a bilateral meeting with African Union Chairperson H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat on the sidelines of the 45th AU Ordinary Session of the Executive Council currently taking place in Accra, Ghana.
The SG has also participated in the 5th Meeting of Inter-Regional Economic Communities (RECs) Platform were the newly formulated Rules of Procedure for the platform were signed.
Meanwhile, SG Kapwepwe has received a Gift of Appreciation from the Economic Social and Culture Council (ECOSOCC).

📢 Exciting news from Kigali, Rwanda! 🌍

Experts in Information Communication and Technology (ICT) have come together for a three-day stakeholder validation workshop focusing on business models and training modules for Regional ICT Associations (RICTAs). This initiative is part of the European Union-funded Enhancement of Governance and Enabling Environment in the ICT sector (EGEE-ICT) Programme.

Once validated, these documents will boost RICTA’s capacity in business development and service delivery. The training modules will also provide valuable insights into ICT development, including ICT statistics and emerging digital technologies.

Five RICTAs in the EA-SA-IO region will benefit:
📌 East African Communications Organization (EACO)
📌 Association of Regulators of Information and Communication in Eastern and Southern Africa (ARICEA)
📌 Communication Regulators Association of Southern Africa (CRASA)
📌 Southern Africa Telecommunications Association (SATA)
📌 Southern Africa Postal Operators Association (SAPOA)

The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Yves Iradukunda, Permanent Secretary in Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation, with representation from COMESA by Mr. Leonard Chitundu, Telecommunications Officer at COMESA Secretariat.

Stay tuned for more updates! 🚀 -ICT

The Joint AU-COMESA Election Observation Mission congratulates the people of Rwanda for exercising their democratic right to choose their leaders in a calm and peaceful manner. The Mission issued their Preliminary Statement jointly in Kigali today Wednesday 17 July with other international Observers namely the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) and the electoral mission of the International Organisation of la Francophonie (OIF). Get more details on this link:
https://www.comesa.int/joint-au-comesa-communique-2024-rwanda-general-elections/

Discover COMSTAT: Your Gateway to Data Excellence!

🔍 What is COMSTAT?
COMSTAT (COMesaSTATistics) is a dynamic platform designed to enhance data accessibility and transparency in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Managed by the COMESA Secretariat's Statistics Unit, this portal is a treasure trove of statistical data and insights. It's an invaluable resource for policymakers, researchers, businesses, and the general public, supporting evidence-based decision-making and fostering sustainable development.

📊 Explore Our Extensive Datasets
Dive into a vast array of datasets spanning sectors like foreign trade, infrastructure, foreign direct investment, gender, agriculture, harmonized consumer price index, national accounts, industrial statistics, small-scale cross-border trade, COMESA progress monitoring, foreign affiliates, migration statistics, and COMESA preference utilization.
The COMESA Open Data portal is your tool for data-driven innovation and collaboration, promoting regional integration and economic growth. With user-friendly tools and visualizations, access to high-quality, reliable data is at your fingertips, empowering stakeholders and driving impactful change across the region.

🌍 Unlock the Potential of Data Today!
Visit https://comesa.opendataforafrica.org to unlock the potential of data and contribute to the prosperity of the COMESA community.

📈 Check Out Our Data Viz of the Month on this link:
https://comesa.opendataforafrica.org/tcmpnoe/minimum-set-of-core-data-mscd-infographics

Minimum Set of Core Data (MSCD) - Infographics - COMSTAT Data Hub The minimum set of core agricultural data is a dataset compiled annually and which covers such key areas as crop production, core agricultural inputs, land cover & use, livestock production, aquaculture & fisheries, forestry production, food consumption, trade data, consumer & producer food prices,....

The Joint AU-COMESA Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the 2024 Rwanda General elections has continued to observe the process and interacting with stakeholders in the country. Today, the Mission Leaders H.E. Jorge Carlos De Almedia Fonseca, former President of Cabo Verde and the Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda held meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Amb Olivier Nduhungirehe, the Minister of Interior Hon. Vincent Biruta and visited the National Electoral Commission tally center to appreciate the on-going process. The AU-COMESA EOM is set to issue their findings tomorrow Wednesday 17 July in a Preliminary Statement at the Kigali Convention Center.

More than thirty-five aviation experts are meeting for a two-day Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) Awareness Workshop in Juba, South Sudan. The workshop is organised through East African Community (EAC) under the project for Support to Air Transport Sector Development (SATSD) in the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and Indian Ocean (EA-SA-IO) Region. South Sudan is the current Chair of the EAC and three of its Member States have already signed their SAATM Commitment.

The workshop in Juba is meant to help the country to understand fully the requirements and benefits of joining SAATM. After the awareness workshop, it is hoped that South Sudan will work towards operationalising the Single African Air Transport Market and strengthen the regulatory and institutional capacity of the civil aviation institutions in the country.

SAATM is one of the fifteen African Union flagship projects for Agenda 2063. It aims to create a single unified air transport market on the continent as an impetus to the continent’s economic integration and growth agenda.

Since its launch in January 2018, 37 Member States have already signed up, a clear indication of the commitment by countries on the continent.

Voting has begun smoothly in most polling stations across Rwanda as the country heads to the polls today, July 15, 2024. Observers from the Joint African Union-COMESA Team are on the ground, witnessing the opening process. Citizens are turning out to cast their votes in the 2024 General Elections of Rwanda.

The JOINT-AU-COMESA Election Observation Mission has deployed 48 short-term observers, including representatives from election management bodies, members of African civil society organizations, African election experts, and gender and media experts.

The Mission is expected to issue their preliminary statement on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

This morning, the heads of various Election Observation Missions convened a consultative meeting to share updates on their findings ahead of the Rwanda General Elections, scheduled for July 14-16, 2024.

The and COMESA have jointly deployed an Election Observer Mission (EOM), led by H.E. Jorge Carlos De Almedia Fonseca, former President of Cabo Verde, and Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, former Prime Minister of Uganda and a member of the COMESA Committee of Elders.

The meeting included the AU-COMESA Joint Team, the East Africa Commission Observation Team , the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) , the East African Standby Force (EASF) , the Economic Community of Central African States , the Organisation Internationale De Le Francophonie , and a representative from the European Union office , among others.

The joint AU-COMESA EOM will assess the elections based on Rwanda's legal framework and the OAU/AU Declaration on the principles governing democratic elections, as well as the standards and obligations outlined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

A total of 48 short-term observers from 17 African countries have been deployed across Rwanda's four provinces.

📢🏃‍♂️🌍 The COMESA Secretariat staff proudly participated in the 2024 Inter-Company Relay in Lusaka, Zambia, on Saturday, July 13th! 🎉 Organized by the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association, this annual event is a fantastic opportunity for companies and organizations to showcase themselves, build networks, and engage in valuable team-building activities.

Not only does this event promote a healthy lifestyle among staff, but it also serves as a great platform for interaction and collaboration. This year's theme, "Climate Change Can be Mitigated: By Acting Together We Can Win," emphasized the importance of collective action.

Participants enjoyed a variety of activities, including the 100 meters Chief Executive Race, 100 meters Directors Race, 21 km Half Marathon, 10 km Relay Race, and the 5 km Health Walk. 🌱🏅

📢 Exciting Update from Kigali! 📢

As part of our commitment to sharing information and consulting with key stakeholders, the Joint AU-COMESA Election Observer Mission to the 2024 Rwanda General Elections held a fruitful meeting with African Ambassadors and diplomats based in Kigali, Rwanda. This engaging session focused on the electoral process and the state of preparedness for the upcoming elections scheduled for July 14, 15, and 16, 2024.

The Joint Team will be deployed to all four provinces of Rwanda, where they will closely observe election day procedures including the opening of polls, voting, closing, and the counting process.

Stay tuned for our preliminary statement, which will contain initial findings and recommendations on the conduct of the elections. This statement will be released on July 17, 2024.

Today, the Joint AU-COMESA Election Observer Mission to the 2024 Rwanda General Elections engaged in key meetings with various stakeholders ahead of the polling day on Monday, July 14, 2024. Led by H.E. Jorge Carlos De Almeida Fonseca, former President of Cabo Verde, and assisted by the Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, former Prime Minister of Uganda & Member of the COMESA Committee of Elfders, the team has already held constructive discussions with Dr. Usta Kaitesi, CEO of the Rwanda Governance Board, and Mr. Ozonnia Ojielo, the UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda. These fruitful meetings focused on the electoral system and the state of preparedness for the upcoming elections. More meetings and consultations are scheduled.

A joint team from the and COMESA is in Kigali, Rwanda, to observe the 2024 General Elections. The mission is led by H.E. Jorge Carlos De Almeida Fonseca, former President of Cabo Verde, and deputized by Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, former Prime Minister of Uganda and member of the COMESA Committee of Elders. Invited by the Government of Rwanda and the National Electoral Commission, AU Chairperson H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat and COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe approved the deployment of 48 observers from 17 countries. These observers, including ambassadors, election officials, civil society members, gender and media experts, and youth organizations, will monitor election day procedures across all provinces, including Kigali. A preliminary statement with initial findings and recommendations will be released on 17 July in Kigali.
https://www.comesa.int/african-union-comesa-election-observer-mission-to-the-14-15-and-16-july-2024-general-election-of-the-republic-of-rwanda/

https://youtu.be/TSOOBKxxZQA

COMESA FORUM_Mauritius COMESA Secretariat in collaboration with the Government of Mauritius and the Trade and Development Bank held a successful Forum to increase awareness and vis...

📢 National Workshop on Gender Equality in Aviation Kicks Off in Lusaka!

A three-day national awareness workshop focusing on gender equality and opportunities for women in the aviation sector is currently underway in Lusaka, Zambia, from 3rd to 5th July 2024. The event targets Member States in Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and the Indian Ocean region, aiming to bolster the regulatory and institutional capacities of civil aviation institutions and foster an inclusive environment within the industry.

Organized by COMESA Secretariat in collaboration with the Ministries of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Ministry of Education, and the Civil Aviation Authority, and funded by the European Union under the SATSD programme.

🗣️ Civil Aviation Authority Director General Captain Derrick Luembe emphasized, "Gender equity in aviation is not just about fairness but about leveraging the full potential of the workforce by promoting inclusivity and ensuring sustainable growth and innovation in the industry."

Mrs. Beatrice Hamusonde, Director of Gender and Social Affairs, added, "It is crucial to create relevant opportunities for more women to pursue careers in aviation and advance their careers on an equal footing with their male counterparts."
The workshop is a pivotal step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable aviation sector. 🚀✈️

🌍✨ At least 250 local and international women in business, cross-border trade, and entrepreneurship have gathered in Antananarivo, Madagascar, for the 5th COMESA Federation of Women in Business Trade Fair and Conference! Representing 20 COMESA Member States, these women are set to make a significant impact.
📅 Held on 28-29 June 2024, under the theme ‘Enhancing Participation of Women Entrepreneurs in the COMESA Regional Markets under the AfCFTA anchored on Green Investment, Value Addition and Tourism,’ the event was officially opened by the First Lady of Madagascar, Her Excellency Mrs. Mialy Rajoelina.
👩‍⚖️ In her address, Mrs. Rajoelina emphasized the importance of investing in women, highlighting their resilience in economic emancipation and poverty reduction.
🌍 Dr. Dev Haman, COMESA Assistant Secretary General for Administration & Finance, praised Madagascar's government for hosting the event and urged traders to explore the vast COMESA market, which serves over 600 million people as the bloc celebrates its 30th anniversary.
✈️ COMFWB Board Chairperson Mrs. Maureen Sumbwe called for the actualization of free movement within COMESA countries.
💪 Let's continue to empower women entrepreneurs and enhance their participation in regional markets!

📚✨ Over 50 pupils from grades 5-7, along with their teachers from Mabwizu Private School in Monze, visited the COMESA Secretariat. The visit aimed to familiarize the students with COMESA's operations and educate them about regional integration programs. Led by Headmaster Mr. Killon Kankungwa, they were welcomed by the Corporate Communications team, where Daniel Banda explained various programs and projects, including those funded by the EU, World Bank, and African Development Bank. The students asked insightful questions and left with a better understanding of COMESA’s mission. This initiative is part of COMESA's strategy to inspire future leaders and promote regional unity among the youth.
🌍🤝

🌍✨ Exciting Engagement at the University of Antananarivo! ✨🌍

On Thursday, June 27, 2024, COMESA Secretariat staff from various divisions had the pleasure of interacting with students at the University of Antananarivo's School of Economics and the Faculty of Law.

Jane Kibiru from Trade and Customs, Esther Mwimba from Agriculture and Industry, Edward Ssekalo from Gender and Social Affairs, Jeromine Fanjanirina from Resource Mobilisation Unit and Muzinge Nampito from the Corporate Communications Unit, alongside the Registrar of the COMESA Court of Justice, Hon. Nyambura Mbatia, led an engaging session where students learned about COMESA's regional integration programmes and the benefits for Madagascar.

The presentations provided detailed insights into the diverse programmes and pillars of COMESA, sparking a lively Q&A session that enriched the students' understanding.

This event is part of the ongoing COMESA Week in Antananarivo, dedicated to raising awareness and publicising COMESA programmes at the Member State level.

Additionally, the COMESA team will be participating in the 5th COMESA Federation of Women in Business Conference and Trade Fair, opening at the Novotel Convention Center on June 28, 2024.

📢 Exciting News!
All is set for the inaugural COMESA Investment Forum (CIF 2024), opening tomorrow, Thursday, June 27, in Tunisia. Organized by the COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA), this high-level forum provides an unparalleled platform to promote trade and investment within the COMESA region.

Targeting COMESA Investment Promotion Agencies from the 21 Member States, the forum is a prime business-to-business and government-to-business gathering. It brings together leading policymakers, industry captains, financiers, major industrialists, and investors from across the COMESA region to focus on strategic sectors such as Agribusiness, Pharmaceuticals, Renewable Energy, IT, and more.

In the lead-up to the event, Assistant Secretary General for Programmes Dr. Mohamed Kadah, who is leading the COMESA delegation, held fruitful meetings with government officials on Wednesday. He met with the Minister of Trade and Export Development H.E. Mme Kalthoum Ben Rejeb, the President of the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), and Mr. Asian Berjeb, President of the Confederation of Citizens Enterprises (CONECT).

Stay tuned for updates! 🌍

🌍 CEHA Uganda Chapter Launches to Boost Horticulture Growth! 🎉
On June 21st, 2024, the COMESA-EAC Horticultural Accelerator (CEHA) Uganda chapter was launched at Golden Tulips Hotel in Kampala. The event brought together representatives from the private sector, the government of Uganda, COMESA, EAC, and various partners. CEHA, established in 2022, aims to accelerate the growth of the Fruit and Vegetable (F&V) sub-sector across COMESA and EAC regions by enhancing policy coordination, value chain development, financing, and R&D.
Mr. Fred Zake, Executive Director of HortiFresh Association Uganda Limited, praised the initiative for uniting Uganda's fresh fruit and vegetable exporters and producers. Paul Mwambu from MAAIF Uganda highlighted that supporting horticulture will drive economic transformation through increased food and nutrition. MAAIF Director Steven Byantware commended the Horticulture Accelerator for its role in boosting Uganda’s F&V sub-sectors.
CEHA's mission is to transform the horticultural industry in our region, with the potential to double or triple its value in the next decade. This collaborative effort promises significant opportunities, especially for small landowners.
Join us in celebrating this milestone for Uganda’s horticulture industry! 🌿🍎🥦

📢Latest from Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)! 🌍✨

The COMESA Secretariat and the Government of Madagascar successfully hosted a one-day multistakeholder dialogue for women and youth in business on Tuesday, 25 June 2024, at the Carlton Hotel in Antananarivo. Supported by the European Union's 11th Development Fund, this event aimed to raise awareness about COMESA trade instruments and empower women and youth to engage in regional trade.

The dialogue was officially opened by Mr. Kola Emi-Haulain, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We were also honored to hear from Dr. Dev Haman, COMESA's Assistant Secretary General (Administration & Finance), and Mrs. Anna Cichocka, Charge d’Affaires at the EU Delegation to Madagascar.

Let's continue to support and inspire our women and youth to thrive in business and trade! 💪🌟

Nos vœux les plus chaleureux au Gouvernement et au peuple de Madagascar à l'occasion du 64e anniversaire de l'indépendance ! Aujourd'hui, nous célébrons le parcours remarquable du peuple malagasy vers la liberté et la résilience. Que la croissance et la prospérité de la nation perdurent.
'Indépendance

Today, June 26, 2024, the Republic of Madagascar celebrates 64 years of Independence! 🇲🇬✨

This year’s celebration coincides with COMESA Week, taking place in the capital Antananarivo from June 24 – 29. Part of the COMESA team has joined the festivities at the Barea Mahamasina Stadium. The President of Madagascar, His Excellency Andry Rajoelina, is the guest of honor.

COMESA is represented by the Assistant Secretariat General for Administration and Finance, Dr. Dev Haman. He is accompanied by the Madagascar Country Officer at COMESA Secretariat Jeromine Fanjanirina. Additionally, board members of the COMESA Confederation of Women in Business (COMFWB), led by Board Chair Mrs. Maureen Sumbwe, are also attending the celebrations.

Mark your calendars for the 5th COMFWB Trade Fair and Conference, which opens at the Novotel Convention and Spa Hotel in Antananarivo on Friday, June 28, 2024.

COMESA with collaborating development partners will organize a Webinar on Labour Migration Statistics Awareness scheduled for 27th June 2024 at 13:45 hours Lusaka local time (11:45 GMT). The main objective of the webinar is to enhance regional awareness related to the importance and production of labour migration statistics in reference to international standards. The intended participants are NSOs, Ministry Departments, other stakeholders involved in migration statistics data production, Development Partners, STATAFRIC, and RECs.

The webinar will be held in English, with interpretation facilities available in French and Arabic.

Please find below the registration link for the webinar

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkcemgrjsqGtB6Wul43b-ehYjOC55breH-

You are welcome to participate.)

https://youtu.be/eSe_OlwU0n8?si=0IdhgCBTzpvJjIad

COMESA Assistant Secretary General for Programmes Dr Mohamed Kadah featured on Express FM in Tunis, Tunisia on 25 June 2024 to talk about competitiveness of the COMESA region. He also talked about the COMESA investment Forum which takes place on 27.06.24 in the same country. Listen to the clip to get more details.

الفرص الاستثمارية والتجارية المتاحة في دول تجمع الكوميسا... السفير الدكتور محمد قدح، الامين العام للبرامج، الكوميسا يتحدث عن الفرص الاستثمارية والتجارية المتاحة في دول تجمع الكوميسا، والفعاليات التي تنظمها الوكالة الإ...

🌍📰 More than 30 local journalists in Madagascar participated in an interactive media forum to learn about the various programmes being implemented by COMESA and their impact on the countries.

📅 The media forum was part of the ongoing COMESA Week activities in Antananarivo, Madagascar. This event aims to raise public awareness of the COMESA regional integration agenda as the organization prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary later this year.

⏰ The half-day session was attended by COMESA’s Assistant Secretary General for Administration and Finance, Dr. Dev Haman. Dr. Haman urged the media to stay informed about the regional organization’s operations and to share timely updates with the public. He emphasized that the Secretariat, along with coordinating Ministries in Member States, is always ready to provide information to help journalists publish articles about COMESA.

💬 He also encouraged journalists to follow up on the impact of the programmes on people to give regional integration a human face.

📊 Presentations covered various COMESA programmes, including the Free Trade Area and Trade Facilitation, Agriculture and Industry, Gender and Social Affairs, the 50 Million African Women Speak Project, key achievements and impact on Madagascar, an introduction to the COMESA Court of Justice, and support by development partners, with a special focus on the European Union.

👥 Experts from the Secretariat and the Malagasy government were available to respond to questions and provide clarifications on different aspects of COMESA.

The inaugural COMESA Week has been launched in Antananarivo, Madagascar. It will run from today Monday 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 this year.

Madagascar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Rafaravavitafika RASATA, and COMESA Assistant Secretary General for Administration and Finance, Dr. Dev Haman, officially launched the week which also features a mini expo. Minister RASATA reiterated her government's commitment to the regional integration agenda and said the COMESA week offers an opportunity for local stakeholders to get valuable information on how regional integration works and how it should be enhanced.

Dr Haman reassured the government of Madagascar on the Secretariat's commitment to working with Member States to deepen intra-regional trade.

Supported by the European Union under the Institutional Capacity Building Programme, COMESA Week has a mini expo which has attracted small entrepreneurs.

This activity is part of series of stakeholders engagements of the week which includes media sensitisation forum, a Multi- Stakeholders dialogue and the 5th COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) Trade Fair and Business Conference to be held on 28 and 29 June 2024.