COMESA business forum resolves to revamp tourism, promote value addition, curb anti-trade practices

Participants at the 16th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Business Forum have resolved to, among other issues, promote regional flight connectivity, value addition and develop a regional approach to illicit trade at international platform.

The Business Forum took place on Wednesday in Lusaka under the theme, “Economic Integration for A Thriving COMESA Anchored on Green Investment, Value Addition and Tourism.”

Presenting the resolutions on Thursday, COMESA Business Council president, Marday Venkatasamy, said member states were urged to put in place measures that would revamp the tourism sector that was among the worst hit by Covid-19.

Venkatasamy said member states were urged to promote regional flight connectivity and also put measures in place to facilitate reduction of regional travel cost to encourage regional and international travellers especially tourists, as a recovery measure.

“Tourism sector is a major source of revenue for many countries, and an important part of the GDP. The sector supports millions of direct and indirect jobs all over the world, particularly for women and young people.

“Evidence from other countries shows that domestic tourism recovered faster from Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, Member States are urged to consider putting in place measures that promote domestic tourism,” he said.

He said member states were also urged to invest in aviation to accelerate the efficiency of movement of goods and people through liberalisation of the skies.

Value addition was another area of focus where member states, according to Venkatasamy, were encouraged to promote value addition and regional value chains in COMESA for strategic sectors.

He stated that member states were encouraged to fast track the domestication of COMESA Industrialisation Policy and Strategy and promote diversification of export products of strategic sectors.

This, he explained, would enhance value addition and strengthen value chains at both national and regional levels as a way of transforming the economies of member states and creating employment opportunities.

“COMESA member States were urged to identify and implement high value chain through strategic partnership in the region such as in the Automotive sector, related components manufacturing and agro value chains with value addition as key component,” he said.

Venkatasamy mentioned that member states were also out to curb illicit trade in the COMESA region.

Member states were urged to set up a regional coordination and cooperation mechanism in the enforcement of legislation on illicit trade.

“Member States were urged to develop a regional track and trace system for products in COMESA region affected by illicit trade. They were also urged to develop a regional approach to the issues of illicit trade at international platform,” he said.

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