Category: Latest News

Time to Reform the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime

Representatives from nine countries in eastern and southern Africa that implement the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime (STR) concluded a two Policy Dialogue in Machakos, Kenya on 6 – 7 August 2024. The dialogue was necessitated by the need to address emerging policy and technical issues facing implementation of the STR and make recommendations to policy…
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Impact of Emerging Risks on Financial Stability

Financial stability is increasingly being tested by emerging Cyber, Fintech and Climate Change risks. These come amidst increased technological innovations in the financial sector to provide financial services efficiently, especially to the financially excluded. Moreover, the entry of non-financial firms into the financial space is increasing competition in the financial sector, reducing the market share…
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Annual Inflation Rate in COMESA Region at 23%

The year on year, inflation rate (annual percentage change) in the COMESA region as measured by the Harmonized Consumer Price Index (HCPI-COMESA) stood at 23.2.% for the month of June 2024, down from 23.7% registered in May 2024. A year earlier, the rate was 29.2%. HCPI-COMESA comprises twelve divisions of expenditure including food clothing housing,…
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Comoros gets training on the use of gender statistics

Moroni, 2 August 2024. The COMESA Secretariat partnered with the Investment Climate Reform (ICR) Facility to organize a three-day training workshop on gender disaggregated data and statistics for Comoros from 31 July to 2 August 2024. The workshop held at Retaj Hotel aimed to equip statisticians, researchers, and policymakers from various sectors with the necessary…
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Empowering Madagascar on the Use of Gender Statistics

Antananarivo, July 26, 2024: Gender statistics are crucial for informed decision-making. They highlight areas where gender disparities exist, ensuring that policies and programs effectively address the needs of men, women, boys, and girls for inclusive social and economic development. In a novel initiative to enhance the collection, analysis, and use of gender-disaggregated data, the COMESA…
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Civil Aviation Authority Seeks Collaboration with COMESA

The Zambian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is actively seeking collaboration with the COMESA to bolster the aviation sector through enhanced economic regulation and support to the Zambia Air Services Training Institute (ZASTI). This initiative underscores the CAA’s commitment to elevating aviation standards and ensuring sustainable growth within the sector. This collaborative effort was highlighted during…
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COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area Comes into Force

July 25, 2024: The COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Agreement, has today, 25 July 2024, come into force. This follows the attainment of the required threshold of 14 ratification among the 29 Member/Partner States in the three regional economic communities. The entry into force of the Agreement follows the depositing of Instrument of Ratification…
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COMESA and AKADEMIYA2063 Sign MOU to Support Evidence-based Agri-food System Transformation

Kigali, July 19, 2024 – The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and AKADEMIYA2063 have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support evidence-based policy and program design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) aimed at transforming agri-food systems in the COMESA region. AKADEMIYA2063 Executive Chairperson, Dr. Ousmane Badiane and COMESA Secretary General, Ms. Chileshe…
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Regional Banks’ Staff Trained on Financial Crisis Management and Resolution Strategies

In an initiative to build the capacity of regional financial institutions, the COMESA Monetary Institute (CMI) conducted a virtual training on “Financial Crisis Management and Resolution Framework for Banks and Non-Banking Financial Institutions”, on 8 – 12 July 2024. It was attended by 40 delegates from seven COMESA Member States’ Central Banks namely Burundi, Egypt,…
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Business Models & Training Modules for Regional ICT Associations Validated

Experts in Information Communication and Technologies (ICTs) have endorsed the business models and training modules for Regional ICT Associations (RICTAs) affiliated to the East African Community (EAC), COMESA and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This was done during a three-day validation workshop on 17 – 19 July 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda and attended by…
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