Category: Press Releases

Ethiopian Ambassador accredited to COMESA

Lusaka, Zambia, Wednesday, March 27, 2024: The Secretary-General of COMESA has urged Ethiopia’s newly accredited Permanent Representative to the organization to assist expedite his country’s ratification of the COMESA Free Trade Area agreement. During the accreditation ceremony of Ambassador Rashid Mohammed Abdul Wahid as Permanent Representative to COMESA on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Lusaka,…
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Advancing Coordinated Border Management: Strategies for Efficiency and Competitiveness

Borders serve as crucial points where various agencies act as gatekeepers to territorial boundaries, with Customs authorities and other border management agencies playing essential roles in community protection. These roles include tax collection, preventing international terrorism, and safeguarding public health and cultural heritage. However, there is a notable shift towards facilitation and competitiveness through the…
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AU-COMESA Election Observers’ Preliminary Statement on Egypt Presidential Elections

Cairo, Thursday, December 14, 2023:  The African Union – COMESA Joint Election Observers’ Mission to the presidential elections in Egypt have issued its preliminary statement. The statement outlines key findings and recommendations on the electoral process up to the closing and counting of the polls. Dr. Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, former Vice President of Uganda, and…
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Joint AU-COMESA Elections Observer Mission arrives in Egypt

Cairo, Friday, 08 December 2023: The joint African Union Commission (AUC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) officially declare the arrival of their Joint Election Observation Mission (EOM), for the 10th, 11th and 12th December 2023 Presidential Elections in the Arab Republic of Egypt. At the invitation of the Government of…
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COMESA Competition Commission has disbursed USD 1.9m to Member States

The COMESA Competition Commission has disbursed 1,933,061 to Member States being proceeds from the review of 21 business mergers assessed between January to August 2023. In reviewing these mergers, the Commission receives statutory fees from the merging parties which are shared with affected Member States. This is in accordance to the Rules on COMESA Revenue…
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Key accomplishments in focus as COMESA Ministers meet

Lusaka, Thursday, November 23, 2023: The 44th COMESA Council of Ministers conducted today in Lusaka, Zambia provided an opportunity for the Secretariat of the regional bloc to highlight some key accomplishments of its regional integration agenda.  These focused on its key pillars: market integration, physical connectivity, productive integration (industry and agriculture) and gender and social…
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Longstanding non-tariff barriers constitutes 63% of those currently unresolved

Longstanding Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) constitute 63,6% of total outstanding NTBs with some of these remaining unresolved for an average period of 5 -8 years with the longest being above 12 years and the shortest being 2-4 years. The long standing NTBs are categorised into Technical and Non-technical NTBs; costly additional taxes, import licensing numerous/complex documentation…
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Joint AU-COMESA Statement on the Presidential Elections in Madagascar

At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Madagascar, the President of the African Union Commission (AUC), His Excellency Moussa Faki MAHAMAT deployed a Joint Short Term Mission of AU-COMESA Observers, to assess the presidential election of 16 November 2023. This deployment was done thanks to the excellent cooperation existing between the Continental…
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EU, COMESA Sign Euros 48.2 million Financing Agreements

Lusaka, 20 November 2023: COMESA and the European Union have signed two Financing Agreements which will provide new grants to COMESA with total value of EUR 48.2 million, financed under EU’s Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, Sub Saharan Africa Program for 2021-2027. The Trade Competitiveness and Market Access program (EUR 40 million) will focus…
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Second Intergenerational Dialogue Forum -Key Take Aways and Recommendations

COMESA Secretariat in collaboration with the Zambian Government and international Civil Society Organisations successfully held the second Intergenerational Dialogue Forum in Lusaka from 16 – 18 October 2023 were young people engaged with the older generation including policy makers, diplomats, COMESA elders and politicians and discussed issues of peace and security as a catalyst to…
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