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Issue #126 - Friday 19 October 2007 newsletterIssue #253 - 4th June 2010 newsletter

In preparation to host the 4th Common Market for Eastern & Southern Africa (COMESA)

Investment Forum in 2011, the Dubai Chamber organised at its premises the first ever COMESA Workshop, aimed at highlighting the investment opportunities and enhancing the economic cooperation between Dubai and COMESA.

The Workshop was attended by representatives of Dubai’s business community who got the chance to meet, discuss and network with the high profile COMESA delegation headed by H.E. Sindiso Ngwenya, Secretary General of COMESA.

In his welcome speech, H.E. Hamad Buamim, Director General of the Dubai Chamber, stressed that Dubai and COMESA share a common vision which stems from old ties and the need for enhanced economic cooperation.

Buamim pointed out that organising this important workshop for the first time outside the African Continent is a clear message of Dubai Chamber’s commitment to build strong economic relations between Dubai’s business community and COMESA.

“Dubai Chamber’s participation at the 3rd COMESA Investment Forum held recently in Sharm Al Sheikh in Egypt was a great success, which was underlined with Dubai government’s commitment to host the 4th COMESA Investment Forum in 2011, in a bid to demonstrate our strategic commitment to strengthening our ties with the COMESA states and positioning Dubai as a promising gateway to the whole

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

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African continent,” Buamim added.

COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya told the workshop: “Within a generation Dubai has witnessed commendable social and economic progress”.

“With world-class infrastructure, Dubai has benefited from its geographical location as a bridge between Africa, the GCC and Asia on the one hand and between Europe and central Asia on the other.”

Ngwenya said Dubai’s business model had been successful and served as a good example for other nations. “Sustainable business could also be built based on creativity and innovation and not necessarily on optimum use of natural resources,” he said.

Ngwenya said the bulk of COMESA imports comprised petrochemical products such as fertilisers and polymers. “However, the products COMESA imported from Dubai were in the form

of finished products either originating in Dubai or re-exported from Asia, particularly China,” he said.

“We need to up the ante on investment in the region and that’s by attracting Dubai investment to the COMESA region..The COMESA region is richly endowed with land, water and minerals which require investments and technology to spur economic structural transformation. “And in the last years we have seen a trickle of investments from Dubai in some of the COMESA countries, particularly in services”

Mr Ngwenya praised Dubai’s economic model, pointing out that the Emirate had evolved into an attractive global business destination and a major FDI centre. He added that COMESA is counting on Dubai’s expertise in certain areas such as infrastructure, road development and telecommunications as the region is looking forward to enhance its cooperation with Dubai

continued to page 3

Dubai Chamber eyes new investment opportunities in Africa for its members

Dr. Kombo Moyana, Ms. Heba Salam, Her Excellency Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimy,Sindiso Ngwenya and Hamad Buamim

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COMESA Assistant Secretary General (Programmes) Stephen

Karangizi has called upon the enhancement of the quality and availability of statistics needed by policymakers to make decisions which will help the region to grow economically.

During the opening session of the Second meeting of the COMESA Committee on Statistical Matters on 31 May 2010, taking place at COMESA Centre Lusaka, Zambia, Mr. Karangizi said an ever-changing global environment continually seeks an equally dynamic statistical system as statistics continue to underpin the basis of decision-making processes

among policymakers.

“In today’s economy, policymakers are ever talking about ‘early warning’ systems that can act as portend of economic events,” he pointed out. “In such an environment the microscope on statistics will be much more stringent.”Mr. Karangizi noted that the global environment was further making a demand on statistics by necessitating new paradigms of compiling statistics, with COMESA seeking indicators that conceptually and methodically give the regional picture.

“This is certainly manifested in the good work being undertaken on indicators such

as the harmonised consumer price index and purchasing power parities in COMESA and indeed SADC,” he said. “As regions integrate, users of statistics will increasingly desire to see regional outlooks as certain decisions, such as investment decisions, will be based on regional rather than a national picture.”

Mr Karangizi said a third window by which new demands were made on statistics was evidenced in the work on the renewed focus on addressing supply side constraints in the region.“Again our statistical systems are challenged to be relevant and provide indicators for monitoring progress in this area,” Karangizi said.

Enhance quality and availability of statistics: Karangizi

From left: Francis Mangeni, Stephen Karangizi and Temba Munalula

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The Director General of Dubai Chamber indicated that Dubai has succeeded in building a friendly business environment that fulfils the needs of investors, through distinguished facilities such as complete income and company tax exemptions, free zones and through providing a modern infrastructure and property facilities that cater to the needs of African investors.

“Dubai’s reputation as a centre for conferences is unparallelled and organising the 4th COMESA Investment Forum will yield all the success that is always associated with Dubai’s events,” he added.

Considered as the largest economic block of African countries, COMESA holds the key to the economic development of the region which is expected to exceed the size of its market of 500 million consumers by the year 2015 and is all set to lead to higher and sustainable levels of economic growth which will provide unparallelled opportunities for investors from all over the world, added Buamim.

He explained that the current workshop provides the fitting platform for establishing stronger trade ties between Dubai’s business community and the African counterparts..

The workshop included presentations from Dr. Michael Gondwe, President of The Eastern & Southern African Trade and Development Bank on Finance in COMESA, Dr. Kombo Moyana, CEO, COMESA Clearing House on the Integration of Financial Services in COMESA and Mrs. Heba Salama, Manager, COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA) on the investment climate in the COMESA region.

The COMESA region with its more than 389 million population and total GDP of over USD230bn offers high investment potential, as the region’s annual imports clocked USD32bn, and exports registered USD82bn worth of goods

The official website of the

2010 COMESA Summit

has been launched in

Swaziland. The website, found at

www.comesasummit2010.org,

contains all information about

the summit, and additionally

provides for the download

of registration forms and

accreditation for journalists. In

part, the Swaziland International

Trade Fair 2010 is accommodated

as well, as it shall be held side by

side with the Summit.

Swaziland will host a number

of COMESA meetings during

the month of August 2010,

culminating in the Heads of

State Summit to be held on 30-

31 August 2010. His Majesty King

Mswati III is expected to assume

Chairmanship of the COMESA

Authority.

In launching the website,

Minister of Commerce, Industry

and Trade Jabulile Mashwama

said it shall be useful to those

who do not stay in the country,

and locals, in providing all

relevant information on the run-

up to the summit and the event

itself.

“The Ministry of Information,

Communications, and

Technology (ICT ) is responsible

for putting up the site. We

thank them for having made

the task the success that it was.

We worked collaboratively on

this project, and we anticipate

that our working together shall

continue until the end of the

summit,” she said.

She added that it was important

that the country had the site

running as it shall not only

provide information to the world

about “our preparedness”, but

would in addition serve as a

marketing tool for the Summit

and the country.

She further pointed out that

the theme of the summit being

Science and Technology, it was

logical for the ICT Ministry to be

involved, and said the country

was proud of the opportunity to

chair the bloc.

“You shall recall that there are

many benefits derived from our

COMESA membership, including

that the country was allowed to

trade under derogation, which

afforded the country ’s exports

entry into the COMESA market

at a minimum to zero duty. It is

therefore gratifying to host an

event of such magnitude,” she

said.

The site has links to other

websites, like the Swaziland

government and others. It

provides information in both

English and French, as some

COMESA Member States are

French speaking.

COMESA 2010 Summit website officially launched in Swaziland

Dubai Chamber eyes new investment opportunities in Africa for its members

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As part of its strategy on information dissemination programme and trade

facilitation, COMESA Secretariat participates at Member Sates’ International Trade Fairs which present an opportunity for the Secretariat to meet with business people, other stakeholders, and students to whom the vital integration information is imparted and explained. Information is shared on the various COMESA Programmes that are geared towards attaining COMESA’S vision of attaining a fully integrated internationally competitive Regional Economic Community; within which there is economic prosperity with high

standards of living of its people, with political and social stability and peace, and where goods, services, capital and labour freely move across borders.

At the just concluded Malawi International Trade Fair (MITF) with the theme, “Deepening Trade Through partnerships”, the Secretariat was judged the Best in the ‘Service Provider Category’ and subsequently awarded a trophy that was presented to the COMESA stand director, by H.E President Bingu Wa Mutharika on 22 May 2010.

The judges were looking for,

among other things, how exhibitors interpreted the theme in relation to what they were exhibiting and the link with their organisations or companies , the general display, as well as the presentation of exhibited material to the judges by the stand director. The Secretariat explained in detail how this year ’s theme could not have come at a better time since the recently launched COMESA Customs Union is in harmony with the theme, as Member States can invest in each other ’s countries, manufacture goods and trade within the region while integrating the region into the global trade arena. In addition, trade in services is expected to deepen as Member States collaborate and liberalise this sector, with the region consolidating its Customs Union through partnerships within Member states and beyond.

The judges were taken through COMESA’s vision, current integration status and opportunities that the integration programme had brought to the stakeholders thus far, citing the rise of trade from USD3 billion in 2000 (at the launch of the FTA) to about USD15 billion in 2008; and were briefed on the envisaged benefits of deepened integration including the Tripartite arrangement that is expected to result in economic growth and development in line with the vision.

The participation of the Secretariat resulted in high publicity for COMESA programmes and its integration agenda, which were evidently appreciated by stakeholders, with the COMESA Stand being visited by numerous show goers culminating with the President and the First Lady’s visit who were dully conducted through the Stand. The participation of COMESA was therefore a success as objectives were met.

COMESA judged “Best” in Service Provider Category at the 22nd Malawi International Trade Fair, 21-29 May 2010

The Acting Secretary General, Stephen Karangizi receives the trophy and Certificate of participation from Helen Kenani and Mary Ndoti, who represented COMESA at the fair.

H.E Ngwazi Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika presents the Best Service Provider Award to COMESA stand director, Helen Kenani, at the just concluded Malawi International Trade Fair

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COMESA adopted a Regional Policy on intellectual property

and Cultural industries (COMESA IP policy) at its 27th Meeting of Council in Lusaka, Zambia. The overall goal of the COMESA Policy is to ensure that the COMESA region is transformed from a resource-based and raw material economy to a ‘knowledge- based and innovation driven economy’. It is strongly believed that this will enable the region to be competitive in the global economy and international trade.

As a first step towards the implementation of the COMESA IP Policy, a Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights, whose objective was to exchange views on the COMESA IP Policy and put together a partnership with international and regional institutions to assist the implementation, was held in Harare on 3 May 2010. 74 participants at the Workshop included stakeholders from Government, the private sector, international and regional organisations, such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation ( WIPO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), African Union Commission, and African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) as well as research and training

Intellectual property for development of the COMESA region

institutions such as the Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa ( TRAPCA). In addition, India was represented at the workshop.

The theme throughout the COMESA IP policy and the presentations made at the Workshop was to ensure that Intellectual Property promotes the developmental and technological needs of the region.

After constructive and friendly deliberations, with the stakeholders welcoming all the presentations and the IP Policy, the workshop agreed on activities to be undertaken by COMESA jointly with partners that attended, particularly, WIPO, UNCTAD, ARIPO, and TRAPCA. WIPO and UNCTAD have already undertaken extensive activities in various Member States, on which the region will build in implementing the COMESA IP Policy, which both institutions highly welcomed. Key immediate steps will be to update the IP audit reports COMESA and WIPO funded in 2002, and to convene a meeting of IP experts to refine the partnership and develop the activities for implementing the COMESA IP policy. This will be followed by another meeting of stakeholders and Member States with participation and assistance from the partners. Some partners who were not

able to attend the workshop have written confirming their willingness to collaborate.

COMESA and WIPO Secretariats held a meeting with the Director General of ARIPO in the margins of the workshop at the posh headquarters of ARIPO in Harare. It was agreed that ARIPO and COMESA will, under their cooperation Agreement, meet within the next few months to elaborate activities for implementing the COMESA IP Policy, particularly in the area of capacity building in the Member States, utilising the excellent training facilities at ARIPO and the existing opportunities for attachments and internships. Other activities will include sensitisation of stakeholders including the private sector and making progress in key priority programmes such as promoting investment in the pharmaceuticals sector and regional trade in medicines to deal with killer diseases in the region and improve the living conditions of particularly the ordinary people.

Events7-8 June 2010:. Kinshasa,

Democratic Republic of Congo, CAADP Launch,

9-10 June 2010: Cairo, Egypt: National Consultation Workshop

for Civil Society/Private Sector organization

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C hief Executive Officers and other senior officials of investment promotion

agencies in the COMESA region met in Lusaka, Zambia on 3-4 June 2010 to discuss a regional Strategic Framework on the simplification of procedures for company registration, business licensing and transparency, with the view to enhance the business and investment climate in the COMESA region.

According to the COMESA Assistant Secretary General Mr Stephen Karangizi, who opened the meeting, the delegates addressed the findings of the COMESA Business Survey which was undertaken in 2009. They additionally considered the signing of Investment agreement for the COMESA Common Investment Area (CCIA) by the COMESA Member States.

Mr Karangizi emphasised the need to speed up the COMESA investment agenda: “If the trade agenda has achieved some important milestones, among others, the COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA) which was launched in the year 2000, and the Customs Union, since June 2009, the investment agenda needs to be also speeded up,” said Mr Karangizi in his opening speech, pointing out that since the launch of the FTA intra-COMESA trade increased from a mere US D 3.2 Bn in 2000, to a mammoth USD 15.2 bn in 2009.

Mr Karangizi added that to implement the CCIA, the COMESA Authority in 2003 decided to create the COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA) which opened its offices in Cairo, Egypt, in June 2006 and which is currently carrying out a number of

sound activities related to investment promotion. In May 2007, the COMESA Authority adopted the Investment Agreements for the CCIA. Some of its features include, opening up the investment space, harmonising investment policies and improving the business environment in the COMESA region.

Mr Karangizi called upon the harmonisation of policies and mutual recognition of companies registered in one COMESA country to operate in another country, noting that this would yield a number of benefits including the ability to share cross-border corporate information and the ease of registration for companies. He underscored the merit in involving the private sector in the enhancement of the business climate within the region.

COMESA targets the simplification of procedures for investment in the region