newsletter Issue #: 654_22nd February, 2021

New Deadline set for Ratification of Tripartite Free Trade Area

Ministers from the tripartite group of 1 regional economic communities in eastern and southern have set June 2021 as the deadline to achieve the threshold of 14 ratifications required to enable the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) enter into force.

This was set during the 2nd Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the Tripartite Council of Ministers that took place virtually on Monday, 15 February 2021. The new deadline coincides with the sixth anniversary since the launch of the TFTA Agreement on 10 June 2015 in Egypt.

The tripartite group brings together Member/ Partner States of COMESA, the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). adopted the guidelines for management and In their discussions, the Ministers noted that These guidelines will serve monitoring of safe cross border movement of the commencement of implementation of the as a basis for all tripartite persons and personal goods while mitigating Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Member /Partner States to the spread of the Coronavirus. this year, has provided the necessary impetus draft their national rules to to countries that have not ratified the TFTA facilitate the movement of Speaking at the meeting, the Chairperson, to do so. people and goods across all Hon. Soraya Hakuziyaremye, Minister of countries,” she said. Trade and Industry, Rwanda, urged countries “The countries that ratified the agreement to implement the guidelines. earlier have not realized the benefits they . had expected as they have been held back by “These guidelines will serve as a basis for those that have not,” the Ministers said noting all tripartite Member /Partner States to The Ministers advised countries to delink that some Member/Partner States have draft their national rules to facilitate the ratification with the ongoing negotiations. ratified the AfCTA but not the TFTA. movement of people and goods across all Besides, the team of experts conducting countries,” she said. the negotiations confirmed they will be The Agreement establishing the AfCFTA was concluded before June this year. signed in March 2018, (three years after the The guidelines will facilitate the TFTA) and entered into force on 30 May, 2019 harmonization of national guidelines for The COMESA, EAC and SADC Member and after attaining the threshold ratification of the re-opening of all modes of transport Partner States represent 53 percent of the 24 countries. The work already done under including air, land and sea borders for mass membership, constituting the tripartite framework contributed to the movement of persons and personal goods in over US$1.4 trillion Gross Domestic Product speedy implementation of the continental line with national laws and regulations. (GDP) which is roughly 60 percent of African trade regime. continental GDP and a combined estimated The meeting was also attended by the Chief population of 800 million, making the Currently, 10 Member/Partner States have Executives of the COMESA-EAC-SADC, H.E. TFTA an important building block for the ratified the TFTA with four more needed to Chileshe Kapwepwe, H.E. Ambassador Liberat implementation of the AfCFTA. attain the ratification threshold. These are Mfumukeko and H.E Dr Stergomena Tax and Botswana, Burundi, Egypt, Eswatini, Kenya, Senior Officials. Besides the TFTA ratification, the Ministers ILO Director Mr. George Okutho and Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa and

This bulletin is published by the COMESA Secretariat Corporate Communications Unit but does not necessarily represent views of the Secretariat. For Feedback: [email protected]

Contact Address : COMESA SECRETARIAT, COMESA Center , Ben Bella Road P.O. Box 30051, +260 211 229 725, +260 211 225 107 www.comesa.int; email: [email protected] WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Malawi Unveils 50 Million African COMESA Toasts Women Speak platform African Union Appointments WEEKLY NEWSLETTER WEEKLY 2

alawi became the eleventh COMESA Malawi’s Minister for Gender, Community MMember State to launch the 50 Million Development and Social Welfare Dr. Patricia African Women Speak (50MAWSP) platform Kaliati, who attended the event virtually, in a colourful ceremony at the Capital Hotel described the initiative as “an opportunity in Lilongwe on 18 February 2021. The national to uplift Malawian women” and urged the launch was presided over by Malawi’s various stakeholders to play their roles in ollowing the re-election of H.E. Moussa Faki Minister of Trade Hon. Sosten Gwengwe. ensuring its success. FMahamat (in picture) as Chairperson of the African Union Commission during the recent Hon. Gwengwe applauded COMESA for The African Development Bank Country 34th Ordinary Session of the AU Heads of State launching the platform and stated that the Representative for Malawi Ms Eyerusalem and Government Virtual Summit COMESA has Malawian government was committed to Fasika said the platform would spur sent a message of congratulations. supporting the initiative. knowledge generation and sharing, adding that it has the potential to alleviate the “Your re-election demonstrated the high level “Women encounter challenges of financial challenges resulting from the COVID-19 of confidence and trust that the Member States and non-financial services which limit pandemic. have in your leadership and it provides an ideal business growth,” the minister stated, adding opportunity for the continent to implement that the platform would help women to Launched on the continent in November the various developmental programmes that develop market intelligence skills and build 2019, the 50 Million African Women Speak are meant to uplift the standards of living of networks with fellow businesswomen in platform aims to facilitate a dynamic and the African people,” Secretary General Chileshe Malawi and beyond. engaging exchange of ideas among women Kapwepwe stated in the message. entrepreneurs, using in-built social media Hon. Gwengwe challenged the local functionality to connect them with one As the biggest Regional Economic Community implementation team to find a way to reach another in ways that will foster peer-to- (RECs) recognized by the AU, she said COMESA out to women who cannot access the digital peer learning, mentoring and the sharing will continue to support the process of platform so that they too benefit. of information and knowledge within negotiations and implementation for the African communities, and access to financial Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) towards The COMESA Secretary General, Chileshe services and market opportunities between its full and successful implementation. Kapwepwe called upon Malawian women to urban and rural areas, and across borders. take advantage of the resources the platform Among the key COMESA-AU programmes offers in order to improve their businesses. The launch event was held through a hybrid are the Comprehensive African Agriculture arrangement where a limited number of Development Programme (CAADP) Trade “Your entrepreneurial journey starts local participants gathered physically at the Observatory Facility, peace and security and with a dream, it will be sustained by your launch venue were joined virtually by several youth programmes among others. passion, but should be fueled by the right invited guests. resources. The 50 Million African Women At the same time, COMESA congratulated the Speak platform is the one-stop shop for the newly appointed Deputy Chairperson of the AUC resources you will need to succeed,” she said. COMESA Bids Farewell to Departing Senior Staff

3

Mr Brian Chigawa Mr. George Lipimile Mr Innocent Makwiramiti

hree COMESA senior staff have left the The COMESA Secretariat bid farewell to the three (ASG) for Programmes, and Administration and Torganization after serving their contracts / at a virtual send-off ceremony on Thursday Finance Amb. Dr Kipyego Cheluget and Dr Dev attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 18 February 2021. The former staff were Haman Respectively. The two ASGs commended years. They are Mr. George Lipimile, the Director commended for their exemplary contribution to the three staff for their consistent drive to ensure and Chief Executive Officer of the COMESA the COMESA regional integration agenda. that COMESA programmes were implemented Competition Commission, Mr Brian Chigawa, and the region made a mark on the continent. Director of Legal and Institutional Affairs, and “You each played an important role to drive the Mr Innocent Makwiramiti, Senior Private Sector COMESA agenda far and wide and through your They urged them to continue being ambassadors Development Officer hard work, we saw many programmes being of COMESA in their next phase of life. Former implemented which have greatly benefitted the colleagues in attendance wished them well in Mr Lipimile (Zambia) and Mr Makwiramiti region,” Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe their future endevours. (Zimbabwe) retired, while Mr Chigawa (Malawi) said. left after serving his full 12-year term as Director as provided for in the staff rules and regulations. The ceremony was attended by a cross section of staff and the two Assistant Secretaries General COMESA Toasts African Union Appointments continued from page 2 HE Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa of Rwanda. COMESA has also commended the re-election of Ambassador Albert Muchanga as Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining. “Your ascendance to the position of Deputy Chairperson of the African Union is well “Under your stewardship, our continent has achieved remarkable milestones, with the most epic deserved and a demonstration once again being the launch and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA),” the that women can lead high-level organizations Secretary General said. “Your unreserved commitment towards the eventual realization of this and inspire confidence and a shift towards challenging milestone which undoubtedly brings the vision of an African economic union closer, will achieving gender equality through provision constitute an important chapter in your career.” of opportunities for both women and men,” the COMESA Diary message read. “She added that many women Dates NAME OF MEETING VENUE ORGANIZER of Africa, especially girls look up to to women 11th Meeting of the COMESA Chiefs of 02-04 Mar in such leadership positions as their role model Immigration and the COMESA Migration Virtual Secretariat 21 which inspires them to strive against all odds Dialogue including gender related challenges to rise to 18 Mar 21 Launch of the 50MAWSP in Virtual Secretariat positions of leadership.’ 21st COMESA Heads of State and June 2021 Virtual Secretariat Governments’ Summit WEEKLY NEWSLETTER WEEKLY NEWSLETTER WEEKLY 4

File/ One Stop Border Post infrastructure at Moyale on the Ethiopia-Kenya border (2017) COMESA, Ethiopia Signs €5.6m Sub-delegation Agreement for Upgrading Border Posts

COMESA and Ethiopia have signed a 5.6 million negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic”. The measures will lead to less bureaucracy, Euro sub-delegation agreement to improve as traders will only have to submit their coordinated border management, trade and The State Minister also thanked the COMESA documentation once, and shorter clearance transport facilitation at the Moyale and Galafi Secretary General and her staff for the technical times will reduce the overall cost and time border posts. Moyale and Galafi borders link support rendered during the development of of transport. Likewise, non-tariff barriers, Ethiopia on one hand to Kenya and on Ethiopia’s project. corruption and harassment along the two- the other respectively. border post are expected to reduce, with notable Explaining the modalities of implementation an increase in revenue collection through The project will assist Ethiopia to upgrade the of the sub-delegated activities, the Secretary enhanced trade flows. single window service system, to increase General said it is envisaged the Ethiopian inter- agency connectivity and to improve the government will take ownership and lead in the H.E. Jacek Jankowski, Ambassador of the connectivity of the two customs systems. The implementation of the activities. European Union to Zambia and Special project is funded by the European Union under Representative to COMESA, acknowledged the the COMESA Trade Facilitation Programme. “We foresee increased collection of revenue development as a critical step towards seamless through increased trade flows” the SG projected. trade along corridors and at the Moyale and The State Minister of Trade and Industry of Galafi border posts. Ethiopia, H.E. Ambassador Mesganu Arga, She added that COMESA is committed to and COMESA Secretary General, Ms. Chileshe ensure that all borders are assisted to become “The sub-delegation agreement comes timely Kapwepwe separately signed the sub-delegation more efficient and operate smoothly to deepen to boost trade flows within the Horn of Africa” agreement. regional trade, which will lead to enhanced he noted. regional integration. The EU will also finance the construction of The Ambassador of the European Union to the main building of the One Stop Border Post The Ethiopian government will proceed with Ethiopia, Mr. Johan Borgstam added: (OSBP) at the Ethiopian Galafi border post. Other the implementation of the sub-delegation components of the project include capacity agreement, which includes managing contracts, “Ethiopia, as a landlocked country, understands building, training of the agencies’ staff present supplies and services, while COMESA will like no other, the importance of regional at the borders and holding of sensitization provide technical guidance. This is to ensure integration and trade. In line with Ethiopia’s workshops. that implementation takes place in line with homegrown economic reform agenda, the EU European Union procurement procedures, therefore supports Ethiopia and its neighboring Appreciating the European Union for the stipulated under the 11th European Development countries in strengthening coordinated border support rendered, the State Minister said: Fund (EDF). management, with the aim of enhancing import and export efficiency and reduce costs to “The support is timely as the Ethiopian The funds will also support capacity building improve competitiveness.” government desires to build on the current for stakeholders on improved border operations trade facilitation effort that will enhance the and the implementation of a border information efficiency and ultimately reduce the cost of awareness campaign on customs cooperation doing business as Ethiopia grapples with the and trade facilitation instruments. Sample of the harmonized driver’s license

5

COMESA SECRETARIAT COMESA Center Ben Bella Road P.O. Box 30051

+260 211 229 725

www.comesa.int

[email protected]

facebook.com/COMESA/

@twitter.com/comesa_lusaka

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER