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2022 CALL FOR INNOVATIONS TO BE EXHIBITED AND PRESENTED AT THE NINTH COMESA ANNUAL RESEARCH FORUM
Click here for more detailsCALL FOR PAPERS 2022 FOR THE 9TH COMESA ANNUAL RESEARCH FORUM
Click here for more detailsLatest News
Burundi Reaffims Support to COMESA
President Evariste Ndaishimiye of Burundi has reaffirmed his government’s commitment and support to COMESA’s regional integration agenda and called for deeper trade within the 21 Member States. He has urged[…]
Read moreESREM Project Closes on a High Note
The Enhancement for a Sustainable Regional Energy Market (ESREM) Project is closing on 30th May 2022 after being in operation for the past five years. Through the support of the[…]
Read moreCOMESA and UNCTAD Train Customs Experts in ASYCUDAWorld
Twenty-one customs experts from the COMESA Secretariat and eight Member States have completed a three-months training on the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA)World Functional and Technical Courses. ASYCUDA is[…]
Read moreBoosting Intra-African Agricultural Trade through Harmonisation of Seed Regulatory Frameworks
With the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, Member States stand to benefit from wider market access for seed trade. This will lead to competitiveness of the seed[…]
Read moreOverview of COMESA
The history of COMESA began in December 1994 when it was formed to replace the Preferential Trade Area (PTA) which had existed from the earlier days of 1981. COMESA (as defined by its Treaty) was established…
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COMESA INSTITUTIONS
An integral component of the COMESA success narrative has been its institutions. These are needs-based and respond to very specific niches in the region. In addition to providing expertise in specific areas, the institutions are involved in skills development and extensive market research that allows them to link evidence to their decision-making processes. To support the integration program, COMESA has established financial institutions to provide not just the much needed credit (the Trade and Development Bank), but also to provide insurance for non-commercial risks (the African Trade Insurance Agency), re-insurance (ZEP-Re (PTA) Reinsurance Company) and to facilitate international payments (the Regional Payment and Settlement System), and to underpin competition in the region (the COMESA Competition Commission).
LEARN MOREOur Programmes
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) comprises 21 African Member States that came together with the aim of promoting regional integration through trade and the development of natural and human resources for the mutual benefit of all people in the region.

Infrastructure Development
COMESA has recognized infrastructure development as a priority and strategic focus area that requires…

Agriculture, Industry & Private Sector Development
The Mandate of the Industry and Agriculture Division is to promote development of….

Trade & Customs Services
The main function of the division is to implement programmes to enhance cooperation in Trade…

Gender & Social Affairs
The Gender and Social Affairs Division in the COMESA Secretariat exists to promote and provide leadership…..
COMESA @25 – The Journey of Integration
COMESA, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, was established on 8 December 1994 as the successor to the Preferential Trade Area (PTA). This video brings the story of how it all began, the milestones in COMESA’s 25 years journey of integration, captured through the voices of a cross section of stakeholders
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