Category: Latest News

Experts Meet to Review Progress on Liberalization of Trade in Services in COMESA Region

Lusaka, Monday, October 10, 2022: Progress on the implementation of the COMESA liberalization programme on trade in services in the COMESA region is the focus of a three- day meeting of experts that got underway in Lusaka, Zambia today. This is the 12th meeting of the Committee on Trade in Services (TIS) whose key mandates…
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States Urged to Upscale Utilization of COMESA Free Trade Preferences

Lusaka, Friday, October 7, 2022: Countries that are members of the COMESA Free Trade Area have been urged to upscale utilization of the preferences provided under the free trade area (FTA) regime. Currently, it is estimated that the intra-regional utilization rate of the FTA preferences, by COMESA Member States averages 48.4 percent relative to 77…
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Strengthening the Capacity of National Youth Councils on Peace and Security

Alebtong, Uganda, Tuesday, September  27, 2022: COMESA through the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) working jointly with Save the Children and the Horn of Africa Initiative, are hosting a regional capacity building Forum in Alebtong 386 kilometers north of Kampala in Uganda. The forum has attracted over 70 young leaders drawn from Djibouti, Ethiopia,…
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Data on Women and Girls Takes Centre Stage as Representatives from 40 African Countries Convene in Nairobi for the Joint Africa Gender Statistics Conference

Nairobi, 26 September 2022—More than 150 public and civil society actors from 40 African countries have convened in Nairobi, Kenya for the Joint Africa Gender Statistics Conference taking place from 26 -30 September 2022. Held under the theme ‘Gender Statistics Imperatives for Africa’, the Conference will interrogate gender statistics through the lens of Agenda 2063—the…
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Regional Monetary Institute Director Bids Farewell

COMESA Monetary Institute (CMI) Director Mr Ibrahim Zeidy has bid farewell to the financial institution after having joined in 2011 when it was established. He was the first to be appointed Director of CMI and has over the years enhanced the implementation of the COMESA monetary integration agenda. During his tenure, Mr Zeidy achieved several…
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Central Banks Trained on Basel III and Macro-Prudential Surveillance

Forty-Five banking supervisors and financial stability analysts from ten Central Banks from the region have been trained on Basel III and Macro-Prudential Surveillance which aims at strengthening the resilience of the banking system, improve market confidence in regulatory ratios and promote a level playing field. Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Outgoing COMESA Monetary Institute…
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Substandard Solar Equipment a Source of Low Usage

The availability of poor quality solar equipment and products which are out competing Quality Verified (QV) solar equipment and products is leading to lack of reliability and a general mistrust of these products by consumers in the COMESA region. This has in turn reduced the rate at which both on grid and off grid solar…
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COMESA Supports Gender Mainstreaming into the Implementation of Zimbabwe’s NDC

At least 30 climate change focal persons from various government ministries and agencies have been trained on Gender Mainstreaming into Zimbabwe’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation. The event was convened by the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry with support from COMESA Secretariat Climate Change Unit from 24-25 August 2022 in Bulawayo. This…
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COMESA Mourns Queen Elizabeth II

Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe signed the Book of Condolences at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Lusaka on 16 September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. “She will be remembered for her unshakable commitment and dedication to duty and service above self. I take this opportunity on behalf…
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Central Banks Undergo Training to Strengthen Financial System

Fifty-one economists from 12 Central Banks in the COMESA region have been trained in ‘Analysis of Payments System, Banking Interconnectedness and Systemic Risk using Network Analysis Framework’. The COMESA Monetary Institute (CMI) organized the training to enhance the implementation of the COMESA Financial System Development and Stability Plan. During the five days of training from…
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