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COMESA

Common Market for East and Southern Africa

East Africa: Comesa’s transformation into customs union to benefit exporters
23-Jul-2006 AllAfrica.com
The transformation of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Free Trade Area (FTA) into a Customs Union in the next two years will open up bigger markets for exporters, an industrialist has said.
Egypt ups trade ante
6-Jun-2006 ITP.net
The World Economic Forum on the Middle East concluded in Egypt last month with the drawing up of a list of objectives aimed at driving the growth of the regional economy. In the wake of these talks one thing is clear; business in many sectors is booming and Egypt’s manufacturing industry is reaping the rewards of the Arab Free Trade Agreement (AFTA).
EAC states told to pull out of COMESA, SADC
3-Jun-2006 IPP Media
East African countries have been implored to pull out their individual membership from the Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and South Africa Development Community (SADC) and choose the suitable one to re-join it as an EAC bloc.
Rwanda: Lift trade barriers first, Kagame urges Africa
16-May-2006 ANDnetwork
President Kagame, who was officially opening the 21st Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Council of Ministers meeting at Hotel Intercontinental, said that while Africa is keenly negotiating for a fairer international trade system, it had done little to open up its markets with conducive investment climates and policies.
Comoros, Libya join COMESA free trade area
16-May-2006 Xinhua
Comoros and Libya have joined the Free Trade Area (FTA) of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the continent’s largest economic group.
Uganda to join Comesa FTA soon
24-Apr-2006 ANDnetwork
Uganda will join the Common Market for East and South Africa (Comesa) Free Trade Area within three weeks. Mr Nathan Nabeta, State Minister for Trade disclosed.
SADC-EU trade negotiations: the overlapping membership conundrum
22-Apr-2006 AllAfrica.com
The challenges of overlapping memberships of regional groupings are coming to the fore as African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries seek a new economic partnership with the European Union (EU).
Manufacturers bitter with govt over delay in Free Trade deal
28-Mar-2006
Ugandan manufacturers are bitter with the government over its delay to sign the Free Trade Agreement.
Sudan: Uganda losing out to FTA countries
7-Feb-2006
Uganda is losing business in the Sudanese market because of its failure to ratify the Free Trade Area of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (Comesa).
Ministry decries failure to benefit from trade pacts
5-Jan-2006
RELEGATION of the trade ministry to peripheral roles in anticipation that the private sector will drive development has made Uganda fail to benefit from regional and bilateral trade associations.
Kenya, Sudan solve dispute
19-Dec-2005
Kenya and Sudan have sorted out differences over the compliance of Comesa rules of origin.
COMESA members told to keep eye on globalisation
6-Dec-2005
ZANIS-Vice President Lupando Mwape has advised the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to take into account the global, regional and local developments in all its endeavours.
COMESA, EU differ on economic partnership agreement
26-Oct-2005 People’s Daily
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) countries have differed with the European Commission (EC) on the development agenda of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) currently under negotiations.
India, Mauritius to sign preferential trade pact
23-Oct-2005 Daily Times
Mauritius and India are expected to sign a preferential trade agreement (PTA) next week to boost the island’s exports and provide India with the opportunity to tap into African markets.
Resist external forces, trade bodies urged
22-Sep-2005 AllAfrica.com
Regional trade integration bodies must stand together and prevent outside forces like the European Union (EU) from promoting divisions to suit their varied agendas, especially when dealing with African member states, a Government minister has urged.
New trade pact won’t replace Comesa
11-May-2005 The Standard
The proposed East and South Africa economic block will not replace the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa).
COMESA looks forward to cementing ties with China
17-Mar-2005 Xinhua
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretary General Erastus Mwencha said his organization is looking forward to strengthening its relations with China, particularly in the area of trade and investment. He declined to elaborate on details of the trade agreement, but implied that it will be something like the Economic Partnership Agreement being negotiated by COMESA with the European Union or the Africa Growth Opportunity Act of the United States.
COMESA demands changes to current intellectual property system
3-Mar-2005 Xinhua
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) said it wants changes to the current intellectual property right system to protect the interests of developing countries. It will accordingly conduct an audit and formulate a negotiating position for COMESA member countries in their negotiations with the European Union for the Economic Partnership Agreements due to start in December 2005.
Greater Opportunities Revealed for Zambian Exports in Comesa
5-Nov-2004
A comprehensive report on research undertaken by a London-based consultancy firm has revealed tremendous export opportunities for export of Zambian products into selected countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Free Trade Area.
Comesa Trade Improves
24-Sep-2004
Trade among Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states increased by 15 per cent from US$4.5 billion in 2002 to $5.3 billion in 2003 while trade amongst Free Trade Area (FTA) member states rose from $2.1 billion in 2002 to $2.6 billion in 2003.