EU, COMESA enter €1.5 million deal

August 8, 2016

KELLY NJOMBO

Lusaka

THE European Union (EU) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African (COMESA) have signed an agreement of over 1. 5 million euros for the technical cooperation facility (TCF) aimed at improving coordination and trade activities in the region.

EU ambassador to Zambia and COMESA Alessandro Mariani said there is need for strong commitments and full involvement by all parties’ and member states for regional integration to be achieved.

Mr Mariani was speaking during the signing ceremony yesterday.

He said regional integration is a long process that needs strong commitments by all parties, and the EU will continue to walk with COMESA for continued cooperation and contribute to the economic integration in the region.

“We are here to sign the 1.525 million euros for the TCF between COMESA and the EU. In supporting the effective design of the COMESA regional programmes, I am aware that already, three studies to be financed by the TCF are being signed today. These studies will allow the refinement of the trade facilitation programmes before actual implementation starts,” he said.

Mr Mariani said the TCF aims at ensuring high quality and inclusive design and implementation of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) COMESA sub-envelope as well as to improve overall coordination, dialogue, communication and visibility of regional programmes.

The EU and COMESA have already developed two new programmes under the 11 the EDF of about 68 million euros aimed at facilitating trade in the COMESA region.

He said under the 11th EDF for the Eastern, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean, COMESA had an allocation of Euro 85 million to facilitate the implementation of its regional integration agenda focusing on economic integration through trade facilitation and private sector development.

COMESA secretary general Sindiso Ngwenya said the agreement being signed is mainly intended to ensure that COMESA has the capacity to undertake high-quality and inclusive design and implementation of its 11TH EDF COMESA sub-envelope of 85 million euros.