COMESA has over the years assisted Member States to install the Automated System for Customs Data (ASCUDA). The ASYCUDA Centre for the Moheli Island, one of the three islands of the Comoros Union, was launched on Tuesday the 26 January 2010. The ceremony started at around 10.00 and ended in the early afternoon. His Excellency Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, President of the Union of Comoros, His Excellency Ikililou Thoininou the Vice President; Mr. Mohemed Daoudou, the Director General of Customs, Mr. Mohamed Soule Issilam the ASYCUDA National Cooridnator, and other dignitaries including representatives of the EU, UNDP, IMF and the French Government attended. The COMESA Secretary General’s statement to the function, speaking just before the Vice President, was read by his representative.

The COMESA ASYCUDA Regional Project (CARP) provided Comoros Union with equipment worth € 250,000/-, 5 servers, 59 computers, 20 UPS, 2 Generators, training in ORACLE with 75 licenses, UNIX and ASYCUDA. The Project assisted the computerization of four offices in Comoros namely, The Headquarters, the Moroni Port, Hayaya Airport and the Anjouan Port. The Government of Comoros has computerized the Moheli port at its own cost with technical support from COMESA and UNCTAD

The ceremony was a colourful and festive occasion with dance and song; the dancers swaying lightly and gracefully to rhythmic drumming. Dignitaries were decked with scented garlands. Wonderful, passionate speeches were made, including in the local language which is a combination of Arabic, Swahili and Bantu languages of the versions spoken around the Great Lakes.

There was a downpour during the ceremony, dripping through the tarpaulin, soaking every one. The crowd stayed; didn’t scuttle. The Vice President was giving his address. He declined an umbrella and bravely carried on. The President too declined the umbrella, and sat still, getting drenched. It was quite remarkable; how these very important people chose to be in solidarity with the rest of the ordinary people, shunning the special treatment offered. Of course in his speech, the President pointed out that the rain was a blessing; a sign of blessings. After the speeches, the delegates were given a guided tour of the two-floor offices, shown the new desks and computers; proud officers sitting behind the desks.

Comoros has a paradise look to it; islands with water around them, green vegetation at the moment and long sleepy drizzles that occasionally become downpours. The horizon on the islands is mostly the mountain, on which clouds float, creating a peaceful and seductive atmosphere. The people are mostly friendly and freely engage in long introductions and chats on first sight; crime is about non-existent, and the people mostly look innocent, without the sharp aggression prevalent in some cities. The untended gardens about town give it a natural and fresh look lacking artificial excesses. Incidentally, the name “Comoros” is a corruption of, and has origins in, the Arabic words for “Island of the Moon” as the Arabs arriving on the island came to call it (jusr camar).

The Union of Comoros has demonstrated an impressive implementation of the ASYCUDA program and should be commended and supported in other COMESA programs. The desolation of sorts should be addressed comprehensively, and COMESA in accordance with its vision and mission, and raison d’être of improving the living standards of the people of the region, should be a vanguard for development initiatives for Comoros.

Comoros has impressive investment opportunities in: fish processing, tourism, energy, salt production, fruit and vegetables, farming and milk production to mention but a few.