Highlights: Zambian Government Commends COMESA Court of Justice China urged to explore investment opportunities in COMESA Trade Information Desk to be Launched at Goma/Gisenyi Committee of Legal Experts prepares ground for Ministerial Meeting COMESA – ARIPO Cooperation to be strengthened The Great Socialist Peoples’ Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is ready to ref

1. newsletter
1
Issue #256 --24th June 2010 2007
Issue #126 Friday 19 October newsletter
China urged to explore investment
opportunities in COMESA
Ngwenya has previously Member States that join the Customs Union
urged more Chinese will adopt an agreed Common External Tariff
investment in the (CET) to be charged to third parties.
manufacturing sector
so that Africa can move The agreed CET rates are 0 percent on
up the value chain and capital goods, 0 percent on raw materials,
increase the incomes of 10 percent on intermediate goods and 25
its people while ensuring percent on finished goods.
that less wealth is exported
abroad. The policy will also determine revenue
sharing amongst the Customs Union’s
Trade between COMESA members.
Countries and China has Ngwenya said that with its 19 Member
also been growing by States, a population of 456 million and
between 50 percent and annual imports valued at USD 32 billion and
T
100 percent depending on exports of USD 82 billion, COMESA forms
he Common Market for Eastern and the country, but on average by more than a major market place for both internal and
Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretary- 50 percent annually, and by the end of 2008, external trading.
General Sindiso Ngwenya on 22 China-Africa trade was approaching the USD The regional integration programme for
June, 2010 urged China to enter into joint 100 billion mark, according to Ngwenya. COMESA Member States established a Free
ventures with Africa’s largest regional trading Trade Area (FTA) in October 2000 and a
and economic grouping to capitalise on the Ngwenya said the COMESA Customs Union Customs Union in 2009, and aims to establish
Customs Union that was launched in 2009. presented immense opportunities for the a monetary union by 2015 and a common
COMESA, boasting 19 Member States and Asian giant to deepen and consolidate market by 2025.
a population of more than 400 million, is economic cooperation with Member
endowed with vast natural and human States, most of whom have strong bilateral, The Customs Union was launched at the 13th
resources that make it a fertile investment economic and political ties with China. China summit of the COMESA Heads of State and
destination, Ngwenya said. has diplomatic relations with nearly all Government held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe,
African countries. in 2009, during which Zimbabwean President
“With a combined population of 456 million Robert Mugabe assumed the rotational one-
and a combined Gross Domestic Product of “So with Chinese investors increasingly year-chairmanship of the regional economic
USD 450 billion, this region is very rich in looking for investment in Africa, we should, grouping.
natural resources, rich in human resources as COMESA, make it a requirement for
and land for agriculture. them to enter into joint ventures with our Meanwhile, Ngwenya said COMESA was
companies to avoid backlash from our in the process of working out modalities
“This region will therefore become the people who might feel disadvantaged,” to access the USD 1 billion China-Africa
region of first choice for investment and Ngwenya said. Development Fund to benefit COMESA small
has the potential to feed the whole world,” Among others, the COMESA Customs Union and medium entrepreneurs.
Ngwenya told Xinhua in an interview. provides for easier trade among Members The creation of the fund was one of eight
States and with other countries outside mechanisms for assisting African countries
He said China should take COMESA as COMESA through harmonised trading unveiled by Chinese President Hu Jintao at
its preferred investment destination and systems. the Forum on Africa-China Cooperation held
increase trade with Africa’s largest trading in Beijing in November 2006.
and economic grouping.
This bulletin is published by the COMESA Secretariat Public Relations Unit but does not necessarily represent views of the Secretariat.
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2. ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT COMMENDS COMESA COURT OF JUSTICE
T
he Zambian government has
2 commended the Common
Market and Southern Africa
(COMESA) for establishing the COMESA
Court of Justice for it helps in solving
trade related problems in the COMESA
region. This was said by the Zambian
Vice President Hon. George Kunda,
who also happens to be the Minister of
Justice, in a speech read on his behalf
by the Deputy Justice Minister Mr. Tood
Chilembo.
This was said during the official
opening of the 14th Meeting of the
Ministers of Justice and Attorneys
General held at the COMESA Secretariat
from the 24th to25th June 2010.
“I therefore call upon you Ministers of said.
Justice and the Attorneys General to
Hon. Kunda applauded the Preferential
address your minds to ways in which The SG also said that COMESA is also
Trade Area ( PTA), who are the
you can facilitate their domestication at making progress in the realization
founding fathers of COMESA, for
the national level and also ensure their of the tripartite Free Trade Area
honouring Zambia to host the COMESA
compliance and remember that, its only that will bring together the three
secretariat.
through the signing and ratification regional grouping of Southern Africa
“ When the founding fathers of the
of the legal instruments which you Development Community (SADC),
Preferential Trade Area ( PTA) for East
will adopt, that will guarantee success East Africa Community(EAC) and the
and Southern Africa, the predecessor
of regional integration”, Hon. Kunda Common Market for East and Southern
of COMESA founded the organisation,
echoed. Africa (COMESA).
it pleased them to grant the republic
of Zambia the honour of hosting
Hon Kunda further urged them to Mr. Ngwenya said that this will result
the secretariat and the Zambian
create strong linkages between regional in the establishment of a Grand Free
Government and its people accepted
and national programmes to effectively Trade Area – GFTA, from Cape Town to
with humility the trust and honour
ensure compliance of COMESA Cairo and thereafter a single Customs
entrusted to us ”, Hon. Kunda said.
programmes at national levels. Union.
The Vice President further said that the
Speaking at the same meeting,
meeting which is intended to address
COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Mr. Ngwenya said that the need for the
legal issues in the COMESA economic
Ngwenya stressed that the committee legal committee in the transformation
integration Agenda, will play a major
on legal matters is the most important to the Grand Free Trade Area will
role in the development of legal
in the COMESA regional integration be required because many legal
instruments such as the Treaty that
process because legal framework is instruments will have to be changed
established the Economic integration
the foundation of an effective and in order to allow the harmonization of
Agenda and other COMESA institutions
productive integration Agenda with programmes.
like the COMESA Court of Justice and
important milestones like the Customs
the PTA Bank.
Union and the Free Trade Area. The meeting was expected to discuss
Mr. Ngwenya said that COMESA has the following issues among others:
Hon. Kunda said that the law in general
committed itself to the deepening of • The Renewal of terms of judges
plays an important role in regional
integration efforts as reflected by the of the court which has expired.
integration because it guides Member
launching of the Customs Union last • The establishment of the
States in upholding good governance as
year 2009 in Zimbabwe, based on the COMESA Court of Justice in Sudan.
enshrined in the provisions of Article 6
legal instruments adopted. • Inclusion of the Arabic
of the COMESA Treaty.
language as one of the COMESA
“We are now in the process of moving Languages.
He reiterated the need for the Ministers
towards the full implementation of the • The Draft COMESA harmonised
of Justice and Attorneys General to
Customs Union because of the legal Consumer Price Indices Regulation.
develop regional jurisprudence for
instruments like the Council regulations • The Revised COMESA Common
regional development with a focus on
on the Customs Union and the customs Statistical Rules and Regulation
the needs of the people at the grass
management regulations”, Ngwenya
root levels.
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3. Committee of Legal Experts prepares TRADE INFORMATION DESK
TO BE LAUNCHED AT GOMA/
ground for Ministerial Meeting GISENYI 3
C
OMESA, in collaboration with the
United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and Trade
Mark Southern Africa, will launch two
Trade Information Desks (TID) at the border
of Goma and Gisenyi in July 2010. The
information desks are in response to the
recommendations by traders during cross-
border fora by Trading for Peace at various
border posts, including Goma, and between
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and
Rwanda, in July 2008.
The main objective of the TID is to facilitate
and support small-scale traders with
information related to their everyday issues
and answers to the problems they face
at the border and/or in trading, through
enhancing existing relationships between
T
traders and service providers at border
he 15th Meeting of the for COMESA trade activities with areas. In addition, the TIDs will provide
various documents containing information,
Committee of Legal Experts the Arab world. such as the COMESA Certificate of Origin, the
was held at the COMESA Simplified Customs Document, SPS standards
and Non-tariff Barriers, information on
Conference Centre in Lusaka, The COMESA Court of Justice transport, accommodation, commodity
Zambia on 21-23 June 2010. The issues on the agenda included the prices, etc.
meeting took place ahead of the consideration of the report on
The launch of the TIDs follows a call by
regional Ministerial meeting of the status of court’s permanent Rwandan President Paul Kagame for trade
Ministers of Justice and Attorneys’ structure in Sudan, the renewal of between Rwanda and DRC to be enhanced.
It also follows a decision by the 9th Meeting
General scheduled for 24-25 June contracts for the Judges’ tenure
of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which
2010. and administrative issues. was held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in June
2009, ahead of the 13th Summit of the
COMESA Authority of Heads of States and
The Acting Secretary General, The meeting looked at the Government. The COMESA Ministers of
Mr. Stephen Karangizi, officially updated report on the status of Foreign Affairs comprise the major organ
opened the meeting. He the signed and ratified COMESA that deals with issues of peace and security
in the COMESA region. At their meeting in
acknowledged that COMESA as an instruments which will assist in Victoria Falls, they requested the COMESA
organisation, was growing in leaps assessing progress of the regional Secretariat to start preparing for a third
phase of the Trade for Peace Project.
and bounds evidenced by the integration programme. A similar desk was installed in January
participation of legal experts. He 2009 at the Kasumbalesa border between
noted that as part of the Agenda In their deliberations, the meeting DRC and Zambia and it has reported a
lot of positive results with respect to
the meeting should once again addressed the progress made in providing small-scale traders with relevant
amend and improve COMESA the COMESA-EAC-SADC tripartite information.
Laws and Regulations to be in negotiations. The launch, scheduled for 16 July 2010, is
tandem with the broader regional expected to be attended by high profile
integration agenda. The recommendations from the government officials, both from the DRC
and Rwanda. COMESA is using the launch of
meeting were submitted to the these Information Desks to commemorate
Some important issues on the COMESA Ministers of Justice the Year of Peace. The year 2010 was
declared the Year of Peace and Security
agenda included the proposed that took place on 24-25 June for the continent on 31 August 2009 by
amendment of the COMESA 2010. The Ministers give policy the Heads of State and Government of the
Treaty aimed at introducing Arabic guidelines that will be taken to the African Union (AU) on the occasion of the
Special Session on the Consideration of
as the fourth working language COMESA Policy Organs meetings the Resolution of Conflict in Africa, held in
of COMESA for the Arab speaking and Summit scheduled for Tripoli, Libya.
members and trade partners. Mr. August 2010 in Swaziland for final A football tournament between Goma and
Karangizi added that this will in decision on implementation. Gisenyi is also planned as part of the launch,
turn open and increase the market with the view to commemorate 2010, as the
African Year of Peace and Security
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4. COMESA – ARIPO Cooperation to be strengthened
I
n the margins of the meeting of the COMESA intends to mainstream IP in all information and documents on activities
4 Committee on Trade and Customs, COMESA programmes and activities, and by the respective organisations; work
COMESA held a successful meeting that it was encouraging that ARIPO has plans to form the basis for planning and
with the African Regional Intellectual shown interest in attending the COMESA implementation of joint activities; and
Property Organisation (ARIPO) at the Policy Organs meetings scheduled representation in meetings.
ARIPO Headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe for August 2010, under the theme of
on 18 June 2010. The objective of this “Harnessing Science and Technology for On immediate activities, ARIPO indicated
meeting was to revive and strengthen the Regional Integration”. that it will attend the COMESA Policy
Cooperation Agreement between the two Organs meetings to be held in Swaziland
institutions as an important step towards The meeting extensively analysed the in August 2010 whereas COMESA
the implementation of the COMESA current Cooperation Agreement signed in indicated that it will attend the ARIPO
Intellectual Property and Cultural Rights March 2002. It was noted that the current Diplomatic Conference to be held in
Policy. Agreement does not appropriately reflect Namibia in August 2010. In addition, the
ARIPO’s mandate on industrial property two organisations will jointly organise
The ARIPO Director General, Mr. Gift and copyright matters, the COMESA vision a meeting of IP experts to discuss
the COMESA Work Programme on
Sibanda who welcomed the COMESA and emerging IP issues. The meeting
implementation of the COMESA IP Policy.
delegation, thanked COMESA for it’s elaborated a new Agreement which the
Further, they will jointly undertake an
decision to revive the ARIPO-COMESA two organisations will review further.
audit of IP policies, laws and institutions
Cooperation Agreement for the benefit of
in Member States and undertake studies
the people of the region. Some of the areas of collaboration
on the contribution of IP to the national
identified include: creation of favourable
economies.
Similarly, The COMESA Director of Trade, investment climate through protection of
Customs and Monetary Affairs,, Dr. Francis intellectual property; support services to
It was agreed that another meeting be
Mangeni, expressed gratitude on the Research and Development institutions; convened before November 2010 to
interest shown by ARIPO to collaborate capacity building; promotion of traditional discuss and agree on the annual activities
with COMESA in the implementation of knowledge, expressions of folklore which will be submitted to the respective
the COMESA IP Policy. He pointed out that and genetic resources; exchange of organisations’ decision-making bodies.
The Great Socialist Peoples’ Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya is ready to reform
A
senior official of the Great Jimahiriya for its active participation in COMESA systems were essential for the achievement
announced that Libya prided itself programmes since joining the COMESA Free of government missions and that good
in pursuing progressive trade Trade Area in Year 2005. and modernised procurement systems
liberalisation policies and in having an were crucial to the effectiveness of public
open procurement regime that was non- For regional integration to work effectively, spending and investment. Equally crucial was
discriminatory. the Great Jimahiriya was encouraged to the need for the Great Jimahiriya to align
In his opening remarks at the opening of ensure that the following COMESA-wide its procurement systems to the COMESA
the Awareness and Sensitisation Workshop Customs Union supportive activities are Procurement Directives and the COMESA
organised by the COMESA Enhancing given urgent attention: Regional Procurement Regulations which are
Procurement Reforms and Capacity Project all key founding instruments of the regional
(EPRCP), held in Tripoli, Libya on 6 -7 June (i) Adoption and implementation of procurement market.
2010, the under Secretary of the General the COMESA Tariff Nomenclature Some key recommendations that came out
People’s Committee (Ministry) for Industry, (CTN) and the Common External of the Workshop were:
Economy and Trade, Engineer Lutif Musbah Tariff (CET);
Hajrsi welcomed COMESA’s efforts in (ii) Submission of sensitive list of 1) Organise more information sharing
engaging with Libya to facilitate rapid products which should be excluded workshops. The workshop requested
economic integration. from the CET; the COMESA Secretariat to organise
(iii) Production of tariff alignments a regional workshop, in Libya in
Engineer Hajrsi stressed that the Great schedules that require the matching the beginning of 2011, on COMESA
Jamahiriya remains committed to the wider of national tariff structures against Procurement system in order to give
vision of integrating Africa within the context the COMESA CET; and finally opportunity toMember States to share
of the African Union charter, which was (iv) Domesticatiion provisions of the their experiences and best practices.
consistent with the long-held vision of the Regional Trade Policy including 2) A body responsible for public
Leader of the Great Jimahiriya, Muammar those of the Council Regulations procurement be established in the
Gaddaffi, which is to integrate Africa, Governing the Customs Union and Great Jamahiriya.
politically and economically. the Common Market Customs 3) The Great Jamahiriya sends a group
Management Regulations. of experts to participate in the 4th
In the opening statement in which Mr. Colas Technical Committee meeting on
Ziki represented the COMESA Secretary On procurement reforms, it was noted that Procurement which will be held in the
General, the Great Jimahiriya was praised efficient and effective public procurement Kingdom of Swaziland.
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