The vision of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is to be a
fully integrated and internationally competitive regional economic community with
improved living standards for the people and to promote the continental integration
process. The raison d’être of COMESA is to pro-actively promote improvement in the
living conditions of particularly the ordinary people through priority programs that provide
holistic solutions to development challenges.

Established in 1994, COMESA has focused on the trade and investment aspects of
regional integration, undertaking activities in a holistic manner in the following key areas:
trade liberalisation, customs cooperation, trade facilitation, monetary and fiscal affairs,
transport and communication, industry, energy, health, standards, environment, science
and technology, agriculture, rural development, tourism, information systems, cultural
affairs, private sector development, investment promotion, human resource development
and technical cooperation, peace and security, gender, and social affairs.

In addition, the COMESA has joined with the East African Community and the Southern
Africa Development Community in a Tripartite Arrangement under which robust
infrastructure programs are being implemented and proposals have been prepared for
forming a Tripartite Free Trade Area covering the 26 countries of the three regional
economic communities – these countries make up 50% of the countries on the African
continent.

Papers of about 5000 words can be written on any of these areas of integration, and will
be considered for inclusion in COMESA publications to be produced for the 2010
Summit. The papers should be submitted to Francis Mangeni at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,
who will be happy to respond to enquiries. Abstracts are to be submitted as early as
possible but not later than 28 February 2010 and the papers not later than 30 March, 2010

Writers are requested to use the COMESA Editorial Policy.

Click here to download the COMESA Editorial Policy.
Click here for a brief on the COMESA Customs Union.