Japanese, Italian envoys present credentials, as COMESA harps on development of industrial strategy

An industrial strategy focusing on nine priority areas to promotion of regional value chains has been developed by the Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

These areas are agro-food, energy, textiles and clothing, leather and leather products, mineral enhancement, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and agro-chemicals, light engineering and blue economy.

COMESA Secretary General, Chileshe Kapwepwe said the promotion of regional value chains in key sectors was the preferred approach.

She said this at the presentation of credentials by Enrico De Agostini Italian Ambassador to Zambia and Takeuchi Kazuyuki, Japanese Ambassador to Zambia, now both formally accredited Special Representative to COMESA.

“The promotion of regional value chains in key sectors is the preferred approach, which should allow for an increase in value added-level activities as a percentage of GDP of at least 20 percent by 2025 compared with the current estimate of nine percent,” she said.

Kapwepwe indicated that COMESA continued to implement key projects to foster economic integration through various pillars.

Receiving credentials from Italy, she said COMESA and that country had a long partnership and enjoy cordial relations

Kapwepwe however said there were more potential areas where COMESA and Italy could work together to further strengthen cooperation and partnership such as agro-processing, the leather sector and livestock among others.

“It is an immense honour and an encouragement for COMESA to continue its commitment and strengthened collaboration with Italy,” she said.

On Japan, she said the country had supported COMESA member States through several programmes.

Kapwepwe said the Japanese government through the 7th Tokyo International Conference on Africa’s Development (TICAD7) meeting agreed to focus on promoting business projects between COMESA and Japan.

“In 2020, Japan’s exports to Sub-Saharan Africa, including COMESA member States, were approximately US$6.3 with imports at approximately US$7.5 million.

“However, in COMESA Secretariat we have not had any joint programmes/projects since TICAD7,” she said.

Meanwhile, Enrico De Agostini Italian, Ambassador to Zambia said COMESA was key to the attainment of the development goals that this region aspired to.

“Trade has the potential to develop other sectors of the economy such as agriculture and mining, for example,” he said.

And Takeuchi Kazuyuki, Japanese Ambassador, said acknowledged that the COMESA region had made a number of achievements such as expanding its intra-trade through the establishment of a free trade area.

“I believed this region has plenty of room for growth,” he said.

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