Category: COMESA News

COMESA Common Investment Agreement set for Validation

Sunday 29 September 2024 Cairo, Egypt: – Representatives from the Ministries responsible for Investments and the National Investment Promotion Agencies (NIPAs) drawn from all COMESA Member States are convening in Cairo, Egypt on Monday 30 September – 1 October 2024 to validate the revised COMESA Common Investment Agreement (CCIA). The CCIA was initially adopted in…
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COMESA Launches Horticulture Trade Mission to the European Union

Representatives of 11 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are undertaking a horticulture engagement mission to the European Union on 15 – 22 September 2024. The mission is meant to increase the competitiveness and market access of the SMEs in horticulture, exploring market opportunities through…
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Energy Experts Urge Enhanced Electricity Regulations in COMESA

Energy experts and stakeholders have convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a three-day workshop focused on validating the framework and initial reports for harmonized electricity tariffs and cost assessments in the COMESA region. This initiative, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and COMESA since its approval in 2022, aims to strengthen the sustainability of…
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COMESA Research Forum: Push for Greater Value Addition, Green Investments, and Tourism

The 11th COMESA Annual Research Forum began today, bringing together policymakers, academics, think tanks, and the private sector from COMESA Member States and beyond to discuss emerging issues in regional integration. The virtual forum, themed “Fostering Economic Integration and Inclusivity in COMESA through Value Addition, Green Investments, and Tourism,” is part of ongoing capacity-building initiatives…
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New Opportunities Emerge in Energy Access Amidst Challenges in Eastern and Southern Africa

The Eastern and Southern Africa region is grappling with a significant energy crisis, as approximately 365 million people lack access to electricity, accounting for more than half of the global total of 675 million. This energy deficiency not only hinders socio-economic development but also deepens the digital divide, particularly in an era marked by rapid…
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COMESA Finalizes Revision of SPS Regulations, Strategy, and Implementation Plans

COMESA has finalized the revision of its Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regulations, strategy, and implementation plans. This initiative aims to strengthen SPS capacities across Member States by eliminating inconsistencies that have hindered regional trade in food and agricultural products. SPS measures are regulatory tools designed to protect human, animal, and plant life from risks such…
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Reviewing Current Trade Remedies to Deepen Intra- Regional Trade

The COMESA Committee on Trade Remedies has started reviewing the 2002 Regulations on Trade Remedy Measures which have been in existence for more than 20 years. Trade experts believe that once amended, these remedies can help significantly boost intra-regional trade which has remained at less than 10% on average over the last few years. The…
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COMESA, IOM Dialogue on Free Movement

COMESA and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) convened a two-day dialogue on the COMESA Free Movement Agenda and Stakeholders’ Validation Workshop in Kigali, Rwanda. The event focused on the “Draft Impact Assessment Report” on the economic and social benefits of free movement of labour and skills mobility within the region. Participants included migration and…
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Exploring Africa’s Carbon Market Potential

On August 29, 2024, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), in collaboration with the World Bank, hosted a webinar under the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Transformation (ASCENT) Programme. It brought together a diverse group of experts and stakeholders from the energy and climate sectors, focusing on the transformative potential of carbon…
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Enhancing Women’s Leadership, Mentorship and Networks in Pharma

A Regional Networking and Mentoring Meeting for Women in the Pharmaceutical Sector took place in Kigali, Rwanda, from August 27 to 28, 2024. The gathering offered women in the pharmaceutical industry across the COMESA region and beyond a valuable platform to network and collaborate. The meeting was focused on leveraging existing policies, such as the…
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