Nairobi — The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member nations should change tact of their strategy to commerce.
President William Ruto stated the bloc should embrace a systemic shift to exploit its untapped potential.
He stated it’s time COMESA espoused worth addition, particularly of agricultural commodities, to improve productiveness.
“The shift will also offer higher returns, incentivise industrialisation, boost our competitiveness and create employment,” he stated.
President Ruto was addressing the twenty second COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government in Lusaka, Zambia, on Thursday.
Present had been Presidents Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (Egypt), Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi), Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe, amongst others.
He urged Africa to transfer away from major manufacturing and exports of uncooked supplies to manufacturing.
“The potential for intra-COMESA trade is colossal; the demand for value-added products is bound to keep growing well into the future,” he defined.
He requested COMESA member States to benefit from its 580 million market demand to improve commerce.
The Head of State famous that Africa should utilise its wealthy, clear power to advance its industrial growth.
“We are championing for the radical repositioning of Africa as the clean, green continent of the future in order to exploit the opportunities arising from the transition to green industrialization,” he stated.
President Ruto additionally referred to as for the consolidation of the COMESA, the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community to improve the African Continental Free Trade Area settlement.
“It is also time we elavated the Africa Union to have the power to negotiate for the collective interests of Africa.”
He stated the transfer will enhance Africa’a bargaining energy on the international scene.
The Summit additionally marked the top of President El-Sisi’s chairmanship period as he handed over to President Hichilema. – Presidential Communication Service
