Zambia pushes for more Comesa intra-trade

Zambian president Michael Sata called for a stronger focus on intra-trade to address ”supply chain constraints” to free trade within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) when he addressed the Comesa Heads of State and Government summit last week. “I have noted with discomfort that although the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement (TFTA) was launched a few years back, intra-trade has only grown by less than 7%.” Sata said that this was mainly due to the fact that Comesa member states depended on exports of similar primary commodities. “We need to do better than this.” Sata said that the region was “endowed with an abundance of natural resources and human capital” and called on member countries to use these resources by developing diverse and value-added industries to boost exports and imports. “I am reliably informed that out of the US$81 million Comesa budget for 2014, only about $500 000 has been budgeted for the TFTA industrialisation pillar – one of three which includes market integration and infrastructure development,” he commented. Development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is key to creating diversification in exports, said Sata, adding that the Zambian government had a support programme for this sector, creating regional and global trade linkages and assisting them in building sustainable export capacity. The establishment of more one-stop border posts to break down trade barriers and speed up customs clearance should also be a Comesa priority, he added. Sata also addressed the border conflict issues – including the recent violence at the Kasambulesa border post where truck drivers have been killed – and reiterated his government’s commitment to “playing a constructive role in finding long-term solutions” to ensuring peace and security across the region’s borders. CAPTION 1 Above) Zambian president, Michael Sata, arrives in Kinshasa for the Comesa Heads of State and Government summit last week. CAPTION 2 (Left) Zambian president, Michael Sata (right) greets the Comesa secretary general, Sindiso Ngwenya, at the start of the Comesa summit.