COMESA spearheads regional meeting to operationalize free trade

Regional business umbrella bodies are set to hold talks in Kigali today to foster participation of the private sector in the operationalisation of a free trade area protocol that covers Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The umbrella bodies, which include the COMESA Business Council (CBC), East African Business Council (EABC) and the Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCCI), will for the next two days hold dialogue which will help inform the implementation of the protocol launched last year. In June last year, the Heads of State and Government COMESA, EAC and SADC officially launched the COMESA-EAC-SADC Free Trade Area (FTA), commonly known as the Tripartite FTA. The protocol is expected to improve trade across the region as it covers 26 countries in Southern and Eastern Africa with a consumer base of about 625 million people. Speaking ahead of the forum, Sandra Uwera, the chief executive officer of COMESA Business Council, said the dialogue is a first step towards introducing policy reforms that will positively contribute to the continent’s development. “It goes without doubt that African policymakers have recognised more needs in trade policy reforms if the Africa rising narrative is to fulfill its potential. The dialogue is a key step toward that journey that will provide a platform for networking and fostering new relationships for business and advocacy purposes,” Uwera said. According to the organisers, the dialogue will also address concerns relating to the different industrial capacities in the three Regional Economic Communities that the private sector has maintained should be structured in a manner which doesn’t restrict trade. The two-day dialogue will bring together participants from the three Regional Economic Communities Business Councils, apex business associations, manufacturing associations and key businesses from the 26 Tripartite Member states. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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COMESA spearheads regional meeting to operationalize free trade