COMESA, the Government of Zambia, and the European Union, in collaboration with the COMESA Business Council, convened the 16th COMESA Business Forum on 7th June 2023 at Mulungushi International Conference Centre, Lusaka, Zambia.
The Forum, held under the theme, “Economic Integration for A Thriving COMESA Anchored on Green Investment, Value Addition and Tourism”, focused on engaging public and private stakeholders on solutions that will propel and transform COMESA into competitive and sustainable growing economies for regional and global trade and investment expansion post COVID-19.
A key output of the deliberations was the COMESA Business Declaration, which was today presented at the 22nd COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit. It called for, among other recommendations:
• Member States to develop national policy frameworks for green economy that support low carbon development, with strategies that build resilience, promote green investment and enhance social inclusion and sustainable livelihood.
• Member States to support the ongoing efforts on the implementation of Regional Digital Retail Payment Platform for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in COMESA.
• Member States to establish the COMESA Medicine Agency to improve access to quality healthcare services and affordable, safe, and quality medicines and vaccines.
• Member States to fast track the ratification process of the Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement (EAC, SADC and COMESA).
• More Member States to implement of COMESA Simplified Trade Regime (STR) to promote cross border trade for small-scale cross border traders including women and youth in order to drive their formalisation and enable them to benefit from the regional preferential treatment when importing or exporting goods within the region.
The Summit also saw H.E. Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, take over chairmanship of COMESA from Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Other Heads of State who spoke include H.E. Dr William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Dr Lazarus Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi; and H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi who took over vice chairmanship of COMESA.