COMESA records $219 billion in global exports, launches tool to support small scale cross- border traders

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has reportedly achieved remarkable milestones, with the value of its global exports surging by 210 percent to US$219 billion in 2023, up from US$100 billion in 2000.

Intra-COMESA exports also grew significantly, increasing by 40 percent to $14 billion in 2022 compared to $10 billion in 2020.

These gains were realised despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and droughts affecting several member states.

Speaking at the 45th Inter-Governmental Committee Meeting in Lusaka, Acting Minister of Commerce, Trade, and Industry, Rodney Sikumba, praised COMESA’s resilience and its contributions to regional integration and trade facilitation.

“Allow me to highlight a few of the milestones achieved in the last 30 years of COMESA’s existence. Under the market integration pillar, I am aware that COMESA has continued to implement various trade facilitation programmes, including small-scale cross-border trade initiatives and the use of electronic tools to ease management among others,” Sikumba said.

COMESA Secretary-General, Chileshe Kapwepwe, emphasized the role of the bloc’s trade facilitation instruments in overcoming trade barriers, boosting intra-regional trade, and attracting investment.

“With support from development partners such as the European Union, World Bank, African Development Bank, Afrexim Bank, UNCTAD, and the World Customs Organization, COMESA has been able to accelerate progress,” Kapwepwe noted.

She highlighted the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) as a critical tool for supporting small-scale cross-border traders, who contribute significantly to intra-regional trade and provide income and employment opportunities for women and youth.

Currently, eight member states—Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—are implementing the STR.

Kapwepwe also announced the upcoming launch of the COMESA Electronic Certificate of Origin (e-CO) in Eswatini, Malawi, and Zambia during the 30th-anniversary celebrations.

“The e-CO has been developed to provide a simple, secure, and fully online process to apply, issue, exchange, and verify certificates of origin. It will make transactions seamless, efficient, cheaper, safer, and more environmentally friendly,” she explained.

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