Author: Mwangi Gakunga

Madagascar Records 26% Drop in Imports

Madagascar recorded a 26% drop in imports in April compared to March 2020, according to a snapshot survey undertaken by the Statistics Unit at the Secretariat. The survey indicated that four key border posts, Antanimena, Tamatave-Pétrole, Ivato-Aéroport, Mamory-Aéroport recorded declines of 35%, 59%, 36% and 80% respectively.  Tamatave-Port was the only one to record a…
Read more

Global Value Chain as a Vehicle for Development in Africa

Implication of COVID 19 in the Future of Global Value Chain This paper presents the prospects of the value chain for Africa’s development and the implication of Covid-19 in the future of  global value chain, its benefits and costs, the efforts by some African countries to get into the global value chain and the requirements…
Read more

Measures in Member States in Response to COVID-19

  Measures in COMESA MS in Response to Covid -19 Vol 11

15 Member States Ready to Pilot the COMESA Electronic Certificate of Origin

Fifteen COMESA Member States are ready to  start piloting the COMESA Electronic Certificate of Origin (eCO) System. The eCO is one of the latest tools developed under the COMESA Digital Free Trade Area (DFTA) initiative. Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe have indicated their…
Read more

COVID-19: Numbers Rise, as Region Ramps-up Testing

Over the last seven days, the number of COVID-19 cases in the region have experienced a surge as countries conduct mass testing. The number of recoveries are also expected to increase, based on the observation by experts, that 80% of COVID-19 infected people exhibit mild symptoms which are easy to manage. Read more COVID-19 in…
Read more

Quest for Extension of Project to Support Small-Scale Cross Border Trade in the Great Lakes

COMESA has engaged with the World Bank to extend the duration of the implementation period of the Great Lakes Trade Facilitation Project (GLTFP) by one year. The no-cost extension is expected to make up for lost  implementation time during the Covid-19 restrictions on movement. The four-year GLTFP is poised to end in December this year…
Read more

Region Expected to Grow at 0.6% in 2020

The COMESA regional economy is projected to grow at a paltry 0.6% this year down from 5.2% recorded in 2019 and 6.0% in 2018. The slight dip in 2019 was attributed to lower commodity prices while the expected slump in 2020 will result from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic suggesting a deeper economic…
Read more

Supporting Cross Border Trade with Masks

Cross Border Traders Association officials at Livingstone town in Zambia, receives a consignment of 1,250 face masks sent  by the COMESA Secretariat to support cross border trade. This was part of a 5,000 consignment of masks donated by the International Centre for Small Hydropower (ICSHP) based in China. COMESA and ICSHP have a collaborating framework…
Read more

Consolidated List of COVID-19 Response Measures in Member States

Measures in COMESA MS in Response to Covid -19 Vol 10

Tribute to the Late President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi

On behalf of the Authority of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), I would like to express my profound sadness and sincere condolences to the family, the Government, and the People of Burundi, following the sudden demise of His Excellency President Pierre Nkurunziza. The late President was a member of the COMESA…
Read more