The COMESA Secretariat hosted a workshop involving member states to consult on the preparation of the 2011-2015 Medium Term Strategic Plan (MTSP). The current 2008-2010 MTSP is coming to an end in December 2010. The objective of the workshop was to facilitate consultations on the draft MTSP, particularly on identified priorities and strategic areas for the next planning cycle. Involving stakeholders in the process aims to develop a strategic plan that reflects the needs and goals of member states and COMESA institutions.

1. newsletter
1
Issue #252 --28th MayOctober 2007
Issue #126 Friday 19 2010 newsletter
AU COMESA Consult on
Infrastructure
A
high level delegation from the
African Union Commission
visited the COMESA Secretariat
on 24 May 2010. The delegation
was led by Her Excellency, Dr. Elham
Ibrahim, the Commissioner for
Infrastructure and Energy.
The composition of the delegation
included the Director for
Infrastructure and Energy, the
COMESA Liaison Officer to AUC, the
Head of Transport and Tourism and
the Head of Energy.
Photo COMESA AUC consultations
COMESA Secretary General welcoming Dr. Elham Ibrahim, the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.
The high level delegation from the
African Union Commission met with Aid for Trade Programme was a Uganda and Kigali, Rwanda).
the Secretary General of COMESA, His joint COMESA-EAC-SADC initiative Resources will also be mobilised for
Excellency Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya and whose aim is to reduce the time, the Lamu, Kenya-Southern Sudan-
his staff. .Additionally the Director of and so the costs, of road and rail Ethiopia corridor.
Infrastructure Development and the travel along two priority Corridors of
officers dealing with infrastructure NEPAD. These are the Dar es Salaam The issues that were highlighted
issues at COMESA Secretariat Corridor, which links the port of Dar by the African Union Commission
attended the meeting. es Salaam to the Copperbelt; and the included the Programme for
North-South Corridor, which links the Infrastructure Development in
The issues that were discussed in Copperbelt to the southern ports of Africa (PIDA), which is envisaged
the meeting included key COMESA Africa. The Corridor, with its spurs, to contribute to closing the
achievements in the areas of policy services eight countries – Tanzania, infrastructure gap, increasing
and regulatory harmonisation, DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, competitiveness of African markets
trade and transport facilitation and Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South and reducing poverty in Africa.
promotion of the development Africa.
of regional physical transport, Other issues included the African
communications and energy Petroleum Fund, whose main
infrastructure whose overall objective Additionally, it was highlighted that objective is to mitigate the effects of
is to reduce the cost of doing COMESA would organise a High Level the increase in oil prices as well as the
business and enhance COMESA’s Conference for the mobilisation of African Maritime Transport Charter,
competitiveness in intra and extra resources for the development of the whose main thrust is to strengthen
markets. Northern Corridor (from Mombasa, cooperation among Member States in
On the corridors, it was highlighted Kenya to Goma, Congo DR and maritime transport and inland water
that the North-South Corridor Pilot Bujumbura, Burundi via Kampala,
continued to page 3
This bulletin is published by the COMESA Secretariat Public Relations Unit but does not necessarily represent views of the Secretariat.
For Feedback: pr@comesa.int
Contact Address : COMESA SECRETARIAT, COMESA Center , Ben Bella Road
P.O. Box 30015, 260 1 229 725, 260 1 225 107
www.comesa.int
www.comesa.int, e.COMESA@comesa.int

2. COMESA Countries assess participation
2 towards full implementation of Custom Union.
T
he Second Meeting of states highlighted the steps
the Committee on the undertaken to establish
Customs Union was national mechanisms for
held on 10-13 May 2010 in implementing the Customs
Harare, Zimbabwe to consider Union and domesticating the
the extent to which Member key instruments, particularly
States had implemented the the CTN and the Customs
Council Decisions on issues Management Regulations.
relating to submission of
lists of sensitive products, Additionally, Member States’
tariff alignment schedules support for the Tripartite
and other work needed to FTA was emphasised, with
implement the Customs requests that meetings on key
Union during the transition thematic issues be started.
Mr Stephen Karangiz
period ending in 2012. The Committee underscored
The Director of International the importance of the Secretariat will be starting
Trade in the Zimbabwe three RECs and the three points for Member States to
Ministry of Industry and Secretariats closely moving generate their own schedules,
Commerce, Mrs Beatrice and working together. and the various studies and
Mutetwa, opened the assessments that are on-going
meeting and, in her speech, Furthermore, based on a will be finalised with close
highlighted the importance questionnaire run at the cooperation between Member
of the work to be done meeting by the COMESA States and the Secretariat.
during the transition period Secretariat to assess what Generation of tariff alignment
to ensure that the Customs Member States felt about schedules is a critical step
Union is in place by 2012. The key COMESA programmes, in implementing the three-
Assistant Secretary General it was found that, among year transition period for
(Programmes), Mr Stephen other things, there is 100% the COMESA Customs
Karangizi, made opening support for the infrastructure Union, as the schedules are
remarks on behalf of the programmes, 94% for the the action plans showing
COMESA Secretary General, Customs Union, 89% for how the Member State will
Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya, in agriculture programmes, progressively align its national
which he expressed hope 89% for trade facilitation tariffs to the COMESA CET.
that the discussions and programmes, 83% for The first adjustment to the
recommendations of the the intellectual property COMESA CET is due this year
meeting would move the programme, and 82% for the 2010. In addition, progress
region to another level in services programme. was made on key studies that
the implementation of the have been outstanding in
Customs Union. The Committee agreed that that these were presented,
the draft tariff alignment discussed and comments
During the event, Member schedules generated by the made for their finalisation.
www.comesa.int

3. COMESA Secretariat “Best AU COMESA Consult on
Infrastructure
in the Service Provider from page 1 3
Category” navigation.
The meeting noted that the key
achievements of COMESA can
contribute to the continental
programmes of the African Union.
In this respect, the following
were identified, among others, as
contributors, to PIDA:
a. Transport and
Communication Strategy
(TCS) and a Priority
Investment Plan (PIP) which is
being prepared;
b. The electric power
master plan which is
being developed by the
Eastern Africa Power Pool
(EAPP), which is one of the
specialized institutions
A
t the ongoing by the First lady, Madame of COMESA in the field of
electric power; and
Malawi International Callista Mutharika as well
Trade Fair, the as the Right Honourable c. The COMESA Model Energy
COMESA Stand was judged Vice President, Madame Policy, the ICT Policy, the
Broadcasting Policy and
the best in the Service Joyce Banda, honoured the Postal Policy.
Provider Category and was COMESA stand with a visit.
The meeting further noted that
subsequently awarded a 1st
the African Petroleum Fund
prize trophy. During the Trade show, could additionally benefit from
the COMESA Secretariat, the experience of the COMESA
Fund whose main thrust is to
The prize was handed to in conjunction with the
channel resources to support
the Stand Director by H.E Malawi Confederation of regional integration by marrying
Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika, Chambers and Industry policy reforms and infrastructure
development.
President of the Republic (MCCI) organised a capacity
of Malawi at the official building workshop on Events
• 31st May to 1st June
opening of the Trade Fair, on Opportunities in the Launch of the CAADP Process
22 May 2010. COMESA Customs Union in the Democratic Republic of
Congo
and the COMESA-EAC-SADC
• 24th to 26th May Tripartite
Earlier in the day, His Tripartite arrangement, with Meeting on Procedures for
Excellency Bingu Wa particular Harmonization of Standards for
Staple Foods. Nairobi Kenya
Mutharika, accompanied
www.comesa.int

4. What the Year of Peace means to COMESA
C
4 OMESA has joined the address relatively new still face the region. The Ninth
AU Commission and challenges that are witnessed in Meeting of the Ministers of
other Regional Economic the region. Foreign Affairs, which was held
Communities (RECs) of Africa to in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in
commemorate Africa’s Year of Over the last decades, conflicts June 2009 considered these
Peace and Security. To that end, particularly in the Horn of Africa challenges, including relatively
COMESA has lined up a range and the Great Lakes Region new and complex issues such
of activities that effectively appeared to be endemic with as piracy and the rising concern
add impetus to ongoing efforts little hope for resolutions. on constitutional and elections
to restore peace, security and However, concerted and related crises. As COMESA
stability in the region. The sustained efforts have seen these observes the year of peace,
urgency to refocus on the region conflicts transformed, propelling efforts will be made to invigorate
with the view of propelling it the countries to a path of the fight against piracy, which
to higher levels of economic reconstruction and economic COMESA sees as a war economy
development was highlighted development. Mr. Ngwenya issue that has exploited the
by the Secretary General, noted that most of these conflict in Somalia to entrench
Mr. Ngwenya, in a statement conflicts been resolved through and propagate, and which has
made to announce COMESA’s African-led mediation and to be dealt with holistically and
participation in events to further reflected on the high rate collaboratively. With respect
commemorate the year of peace. of conflict resolution in Africa to constitutional and elections
compared to the global rate. related crises, COMESA working
2010 was declared to be the in close partnership with EAC
year of peace and security for COMESA therefore sees the and IGAD will be launching a
the continent on 31 August Africa Year of Peace as a good joint programme that will focus
2009 by the Heads of State and opportunity to highlight Africa’s on democracy, governance and
Government of the African Union capabilities and show-case human rights during the year.
on the occasion of a special COMESA’s efforts. As intimated Apart from stepping up efforts
Session on the Consideration and by the Secretary General, to resolve on-going conflicts
Resolution of conflicts in Africa, international media has rarely and address the relatively new
which was held in Tripoli, Libya. focused on the numerous good challenges noted above, the
For COMESA, the activities to efforts made in the region other activities which will be
commemorate the year of peace towards transforming it. used to commemorate and
will be designed to be both a celebrate the year of peace
celebration and an energiser. “Sadly however, these efforts include, among others, the
These activities will celebrate the have not always received due launching of Trade Information
gains made towards resolving recognition and have often times Desks at Goma and Gisenyi and
some of the longest and most been crowded out by negative efforts to enhance the role of
protracted conflicts that were media”. Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya, COMESA Inter-Parliamentarian
witnessed in the region over 2010. Forum in the fight against
the last two decades; they will war economies. Additional
energise not only the resolution COMESA is however very activities will be announced
of the remaining ongoing cognizant of the magnitude and highlighted in e-COMESA in
conflicts but will additionally of some of the challenges that future publications.
www.comesa.int

5. COMESA discusses THIS WEEKS COURTESY CALLS
promotion of Trade
in Services 5
T
he Committee on Trade in
Services met on 17-19 May 2010
in Harare, Zimbabwe to reach
consensus on the priority services
sectors and to initiate work on the
preparation of schedules of specific
commitments in the COMESA region.
Mrs Abigail Shonhiwa, Permanent
Secretary at the Ministry of Industry
and Commerce in the Republic of
Zimbabwe opened the meeting by
emphasising the important role that
services play in making economies
competitive and the significant Sindiso Ngwenya welcoming the Cuba Ambassador Her Excellency Carmelian Ramires Rodriguez
at COMESA Secretariat
contribution that services make to the
GDPs of the countries in the region.
The Director of Trade, Customs and
Monetary Affairs, Dr Francis Mangeni,
on behalf of the Secretary General
of COMESA, made opening remarks
where he pointed out that the aim
of the meeting was for the region
to discuss and agree on the priority
services sectors and start work on the
schedules of commitment.
At the event, the Committee decided
that the services liberalisation
programme will start with the
four sectors that the 13 Member Ambassador Nagla El Hussainy welcoming Her Excellency Marie Andersson de Frutos
States that submitted lists of their Ambassador Embassy of Sweden at COMESA Secretariat
priority sectors indicated. These are
communications, transport, finance
and tourism services.
The third meeting of the Committee
is tentatively planned for November
2010, when the Member States will
undertake text-based negotiations
on the extent they will open up the
four sectors as well as select three
more sectors for the next negotiating
meeting. In addition, the Committee
agreed that Member States can
undertake commitments and open
up the other additional sectors they
indicated, as some Member States
had indicated seven to ten sectors for Ambassador Nagla El Hussainy welcoming His Excellency Attalla Qubia
liberalisation. Ambassador of the State of Palestine at COMESA Secretariat
www.comesa.int

6. Member States Participate in crafting
6 COMESA Medium Term Strategic Plan
and COMESA Institutions.
The meeting was opened
by the Assistant Secretary
General ( programmes)
Mr Stephen Karangizi who
stating the importance of
planning for the achievement
of COMESA’s regional
integration agenda. He went
through the background
to the 2011-2015 MTSP ,
Part of the high table Ambassador Nagla El Hussainy and Mr Stephen Karangizi adding that this wil be will
A
s the COMESA Committee in December be the fourth Strategic Plan
Medium Term 2009, the Secretariat for COMESA building on the
Strategic Plan (MTSP) presented an update of achievements and challenges
for 2008 – 2010 comes to progress, including proposed of the previous plans. He
an end in December 2010, next steps. thereafter the thanked the participants for
their continued commitment
the COMESA Secretariat in COMESA Council of Ministers
in the process of developing
consultation with member requested the Secretariat
the Strategic Plan.
states is undertaking a road to organize a workshop
map for the preparation of involving member States
The objective of the
a successor MTSP for the on the preparation of the
workshop is to facilitate
period 2011 – 2015. This 2011-2015 MTSP. It is in this
consultations on the draft
process has thus far involved regard that the COMESA
MTSP particularly the
participatory internal Secretariat this week (27-
priorities and strategic
consultations, a strategic 29 May 2010) y hosted the areas identified for the next
management retreat, and 2011-2015 Medium Term planning cycle. By involving
a strategic review and Strategic Planning Workshop different stakeholders, it also
planning meeting held in . Participants of the meeting enhances the ownership
September 2009 involving included senior officials of the MTSP beyond the
senior officials from member from co-ordinating ministries COMESA Secretariat. Input
States. At the meeting of from member States, received from the meeting
the Intergovernmental representatives from the will be used to finalize the
member States private sector draft MTSP
www.comesa.int

7. DR Kaberuka re-elected as AfDB President
integration of the continent,” he excellent decision. 7
said.
AfDB and COMESA have over the
Kaberuka said he would achieve years collaborated in different
this by working closely with field that support regional and
regional economic communities Continental integration. These
(RECs). include Public Procurement
reforms, and agriculture
The former Rwandan finance marketing information systems.
minister was first elected as
the 7th President of the Bank in AfDB is also a member of the
2005. COMESA Financial arm the PTA
D
r. Donald Kaberuka has Bank. Indeed it is the only
been re-elected as the Since his election, Dr. Kaberuka institutional investor in the Bank
President of the African has carried out major reforms with a 5.76% shareholding.
Development Bank (AfDB), giving to refocus the AfDB’s agenda on Once established, the AfDB was
him five more years at the helm regional economic integration, the first financial institution to
of the continent’s development private sector, infrastructure, support the PTA Bank in various
bank. governance, and a special ways; including. Technical
initiative for post conflict Assistance grants, long-term
Unlike five years ago when countries and fragile states. lines of credit and co-financing.
he faced stiff completion, AfDB is a significant financier to
this time Dr Kaberuka, In 2009, the Bank’s project and the PTA Bank, cumulatively, AfDB
contestedunopposed. He , was programme approvals, more has given the Bank loans worth
re-elected yesterday ( Thursday than doubled to $12 billion more than USD 102 million.
27t May) during the ongoing compared to $5.4 billion in 2008.
annual meetings of the AfBD Funds availed under AfDB’s lines
Board of Governors in the Ivorian In a related development, of credit are earmarked for viable
capital, Abidjan. Governors of the Bank on private sector projects in the
Thursday also approved tripling manufacturing, industry, tourism,
Addressing a press briefing of the Bank’s capital resources agri-business, mining, energy
shortly after his re-election, to nearly $100 billion, signaling and infrastructure sectors as well
President Kaberuka said he strong confidence in the bank’s as for enterprises which provide
would focus on accelerating management. support services to industry and
economic integration of the export generation
continent, which is still largely This substantial increase allows
viewed through the prism of the AfDB to sustain a higher Dr Kaberuka attended and
natural resources. level of lending - even to the addressed the 13th COMESA
private sector - in response to Summit of Heads of State and
“Africa is still viewed as the overwhelming demand in all Government that took place in
continent to supply oil, minerals countries. Victoria Falls Zimbabwe in June
and other raw materials. During 2009. He is also expected at the
my second term of office we The COMESA Secretary General 14th Summit to be held in the
shall deploy all the talent and Mr Sindiso Ngwenya described Kingdom of Swaziland in August
energies to accelerate economic Dr Kaberuka’s re-election as an 2010
www.comesa.int

8. Information Exchange to enrich COMESA region
T
he COMESA Food and in each Member State to network Mr. Barasa appealed to them to
8
Agricultural Marketing with other stakeholders like traders, come up with a directory of SPS
Information System (FAMIS) commodity exchange experts experts who are dependable and will
has been commended for providing among others to ensure that up-to- regularly provide data. The experts
useful information to traders in the date information is gathered and were introduced to the newly
COMESA region. This was said by uploaded on the site. developed SPS discussion forum
Mr. Kenneth Ayuko, Senior Assistant The training which was held on 25- for their use. This discussion forum
Director of Agriculture, Policy 26 May 2010, brought together SPS is a tool that will enable the SPS
Coordination and External Relations, experts dealing with animal health, Experts to regularly communicate
Ministry of Agriculture of the plant protection and food safety and network among themselves. It
Republic of Kenya, when he officially trade requirements and regulations, will allow them to share information
opened the Sanitary and Phyto- to discuss how best to populate and experiences, and to develop
Sanitary (SPS) training on the use of FAMIS with SPS data and information informed positions on different
FAMIS in Nairobi, Kenya. useful for FAMIS users. SPS issues at national, regional and
international levels.
Mr. Ayuko called on Member States Addressing the delegates, Mr.
to continuously provide information Thomas Barasa, COMESA-AMRIP The meeting resolved that a list of
on the website which can be Project Manager, informed the SPS experts who will work with the
accessed by the public and can meeting that SPS has the potential of COMESA Secretariat needs to be
ultimately promote trade in goods impacting on internal and external generated. This will ensure the FAMIS
and services within the region. The COMESA trade. Mr Barasa called on SPS pillar is uploaded with updated
information on the website, he the SPS experts to come together information. It was unanimously
said, helps traders make informed and ensure that SPS measures agreed that each Member State
decisions and expand their scope of are applied not only in protecting should upload preliminary SPS data
trade. human, plant and animal health, but on the site within two weeks.
to promote regional trade as well. COMESA developed FAMIS under the
Mr. Ayuko however lamented that On food security, Mr. Barasa said Agricultural Marketing Promotion
whereas the COMESA region boasts that despite COMESA having and Regional Integration Project
of more than 480 million inhabitants, good ecological diversity, if SPS (AMPRIP), in order to fill the gap in
the region still remains poor. “The measures become a hindrance in agricultural data and information
only way to stem food insecurity food movement, then Member that could help to improve
and lower levels of poverty is by States of the COMESA region might agricultural trade in the region.
promoting trade and regional continue suffering from regional FAMIS is a COMESA web-based
integration” Mr. Ayuko said. food insecurity through hunger and system whose purpose is to facilitate
famine. agricultural trade by providing
Mr. Ayuko additionally noted that relevant data and information from
the HIV scourge has continuously Mr. Barasa noted with concern the public and private sectors. Since
devastated the population in the that as a project, FAMIS has had inception in 2007, the system has
region, affecting the labour force. challenges on getting updated been populated with data and
“Those expected to be working in data on SPS issues leading to an information related to food security,
the fields to produce agricultural information gap. “The SPS pillar is sanitary and phytosanitary measures,
produce are being wiped out. This not adequately populated with market related data and information
also affects the consumption of information and yet traders need to with the support from COMESA
the agricultural products since the know what are the SPS regulations Secretariat and COMESA Member
number of consumers is slowly and other measures. This information States.
decreasing”. is supposed to be placed on the The website can be found at http://
Mr. Ayuko challenged focal points website for easy access,” he said. famis.comesa.int
www.comesa.int