ON THE COMESA FREE TRADE AREA: Noted with satisfaction that intra-COMESA trade had increased to US $17.4 billion by the end of 2010, signifying a recovery from 2009 when intra-COMESA trade was US $12.7 billion due to the financial crisis and economic recession. The Authority further noted that there has been almost a six-fold increase in intra-COMESA trade since the launch of the FTA on 31 October 2000 when the value stood at US $3.1 billion
WELCOMED Egypt’s adoption of the 35% value addition threshold under the COMESA Rules of Origin to be in line with all the rest of the Member States
NOTED the adoption of the COMESA detailed rules of origin
ON THE COMESA CUSTOMS UNION
NOTED that the mid-term review of the implementation of the three-year transition period for the Customs Union has been undertaken, and NOTING the good progress made on the whole, ESTABLISHED a Ministerial Task Force to work with Member States to address any outstanding issues in order to ensure that a functional Customs Union is duly implemented by the end of the transition period
ON THE TRIPARTITE FREE TRADE AREA
NOTED WITH SATISFACTION that following the launch of the negotiations for the Tripartite Free Trade Area on 12 June 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa, preparations are progressing well towards the commencement of the negotiations, URGED Member States to prepare to effectively participate in the negotiations, and CALLED for due compliance with the roadmap for the negotiations
ON MONETARY COOPERATION
URGED Member States to promote fiscal convergence by implementing the COMESA Multilateral Fiscal Surveillance Framework in order to make the region a zone of macroeconomic stability
URGED all central banks and stakeholders in the COMESA Region to aggressively market and use the Regional Payment and Settlement System (REPSS) in order to enhance intra regional Trade
ON COOPERATION WITH OTHER REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES
NOTED WITH APPRECIATION the continued collaboration between COMESA and the other regional organizations in Africa, particularly, within the frameworks of COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite arrangement and the COMESA, EAC, IGAD and IOC under the Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC) and URGED for the strengthening of this cooperation
COMMENDED the continued progress and collaboration among COMESA, EAC and SADC being made in the framework of the Tripartite Arrangement and DIRECTED that the Secretariats of EAC and SADC should attend in the COMESA Policy Organs meetings as participants in the Secretariat in order to enhance implementation of the Tripartite Integration Programmes
ON TRADE IN SERVICES
EMPHASIZED the critical importance of services in modern economies and for improvement of competitiveness in COMESA and in this URGED Member States to finalize their revised schedules of specific commitments and expeditiously finalize the negotiations in the four priority sectors of financial services, communications services, transport services and tourism services, and commence preparations to negotiate all the remaining sectors
ON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (EPAs) WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION
NOTED progress made in negotiating the contentious issues between the countries of Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Economic Partnership (EPA) configuration and the European Union
REITERATED that the objective of EPAs is to support ESA development and regional integration
ON MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS
NOTED that the WTO Ministerial Conference will be held in Geneva in December 2011, AND URGED Member States to prepare to effectively participate and work closely with like-minded groups like the Africa Group
ON COMESA AID FOR TRADE
DIRECTED that the COMESA Aid for Trade Strategy be finalised and used for effective resource mobilization and donor coordination as well as strengthening synergies between national and regional development programmes
ENDORSED the African Union position for the Fourth High Level Institutional Forum on Aid Effectiveness to be held in South Korea in November 2011 with the emphasis on the inclusion of the regional dimension on development effectiveness, infrastructure and trade development as well as enhancement of productive capacity and competitiveness
ON THE AFRICAN GROWTH OPPORTUNITY ACT (AGOA)
COMMENDED the Government of the Republic of Zambia for having successfully hosted the Tenth AGOA Forum and COMESA Member States for their active participation that included the preparation of a common position to advance in engaging the United States of America Government on the programme
ON HARNESSING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT
CONSIDERED and adopted a COMESA strategy and implementation plan on science and technology
DIRECTED the Secretariat to work with Member States in the establishment of Science, Technology and Innovation Parks, and priority industry clusters and develop mechanism for exchange and sharing of experiences amongst Member States
DIRECTED the Secretariat to develop programmes for harnessing local technologies for processing and branding local products
ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
RECALLED that infrastructure development and transport facilitation is being implemented under the aegis of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite arrangement
WELCOMED the successful outcome of the recent COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite and IGAD Infrastructure Investment Conference that was held on 28 and 29 September 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya which initiated the process for mobilisation of funding for projects on the Central, Northern, Lamu and Djibouti Corridors including energy projects
URGED the Member States under the Tripartite framework to expedite the harmonisation of trade facilitation instruments and policies so as to reduce the cost of doing business and enhance competitiveness
COMMENDED the strong support by the cooperating and development partners including the private sector for the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite and IGAD Corridor Programme, targeting infrastructure and trade facilitation investment into the East and Horn of Africa corridors that were highlighted at the Investment conference
DIRECTED the Secretariat within the Tripartite Framework to complete the work being done on the development of maritime corridors linking the Indian Ocean States to the mainland and convene a Maritime Corridors Investment Conference in 2012
COMESA FUND
ENDORSED the decision of Council of Ministers on the utilization of Regional Integration Indicators for accessing the COMESA Fund Adjustment Facility to ensure effective and timely implementation by Member States on the COMESA integration programmes
ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
ENDORSED the COMESA sector strategy for production and trade in life saving medicines
ENDORSED the guidelines for preparing national intellectual property policies in line with the COMESA policy on Intellectual Property and the creative industries
ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT
WELCOMED the offer by the Government of Uganda to host the COMESA Regional e-Governance Academy
ON AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT
NOTED with concern the devastating drought affecting the Horn of Africa and called for the international community to provide emergency and long term support for projects and programmes that will mitigate the effects of droughts
APPROVED the COMESA Strategy for sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture
NOTED with satisfaction the progress made in the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and URGED COMESA Member States that have not yet signed their National Compacts to sign them
APPROVED the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) Five -Year Development Strategy (2012-2016)
RECALLED the AU pledging Conference on the Horn of Africa drought that was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 26 August 2011 at which more than USD350 million was pledged towards the relief effort and CALLED for the fulfillment of those pledges
ON CLIMATE CHANGE
CALLED for the inclusion of agriculture in the post Kyoto Climate Change Agreement at the next Conference of Parties (COP 17) to be held in Durban, South Africa in December, 2011
REITERATED the need for the discharge of the commitments by developed countries to provide funding for adaptation and mitigation as a result of climate change, taking into account that COMESA countries in particular and Africa in general have not been responsible for global warming
ON GENDER MAINSTREAMING, WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS
APPROVED the establishment of a fund for economic empowerment of women to promote gender equality and economic empowerment
URGED COMESA Member States to implement the African Union Protocol on 50-50 gender parity in all COMESA structures
URGED Member States to integrate COMESA regional programmes into national development strategies and priorities
ON DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE AND PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILITY
DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE
REITERATED the importance of democracy and good governance in the maintenance of peace, security and stability and URGED Member States to continue to strengthen democratic processes, structures and institutions in order to consolidate democracy and good governance in the region
DIRECTED the Secretariat to strengthen its programme on democracy and governance in order to deepen its support in the democratization on the region
CONGRATULATED His Excellency President Ismail Omar Guelleh, upon his re-election as President of the Republic of Djibouti and COMMENDED the people of the Republic of Djibouti for holding successful, peaceful and transparent elections
CONGRATULATED His Excellency President Ikililou Dhoinine, upon his election as President of the Union of the Comoros and COMMENDED the people of the Union of Comoros for holding successful elections
CONGRATULATED His Excellency President James Michel, upon his re-election as President of the Republic of Seychelles and COMMENDED the government and people of the Republic of Seychelles for holding peaceful and transparent elections
CONGRATULATED His Excellency President Yoweri K. Museveni, upon his re-election as President of the Republic of Uganda and COMMENDED the government and people of the Republic of Uganda for holding peaceful and transparent elections
CONGRATULATED His Excellency President Michael Chilufya Sata, upon his election as President of the Republic of Zambia and COMMENDED the government and people of Zambia for holding peaceful and transparent elections
WELCOMED positive developments in the democratization process in the Arab Republic of Egypt as well as the commitment of the new Egyptian authorities to successfully complete the ongoing transition and EXPRESSED solidarity with the Egyptian people in their desire for democracy, good governance and respect for human rights
NOTED the developments in Libya, REITERATED the need for respect of the sovereignty and independence of Libya and CALLED for support for a fully Libyan owned and driven process in the transformation of the country
ENCOURAGED the Libyan parties to form an all-inclusive transitional government
WELCOMED the signing of the Roadmap to Democracy by the majority of Malagasy parties and COMMENDED the AU, SADC and IOC for their sustained efforts in the search for a lasting solution to the crisis in Madagascar
PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILITY
REITERATED the importance of peace and security for creating an enabling environment for investment, economic development and a viable integration for the region
URGED COMESA to strengthen its conflict prevention, resolution and post conflict reconstruction capabilities in order to deepen its support in the search for peace, security and stability in the region
CONGRATULATED the Government and the people of South Sudan on attaining independence and URGED COMESA Member States to support the new state in its reconstruction efforts
WELCOMED the Agreement between the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan for the withdrawal of forces of both parties at Abyei and other border areas
REITERATED its concern at the continued impasse in the peace process between Eritrea and Ethiopia and CALLED for renewed African Union efforts to help the two countries to overcome the difficulties facing the peace process
EXPRESSED concern over lack of progress towards the resolution of the border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea and CALLED upon both parties to engage in the mediation process in good faith and to refrain from the use or threat of use of force
WELCOMED continued progress towards the consolidation of peace and post conflict reconstruction at the Great Lakes Region and specifically at the Democratic Republic of Congo and EXPRESSED satisfaction over the continuing good relations between the Democratic Republic of Congo and her neighbors;
EXPRESSED concern over continued activities by armed groups operating within the Democratic Republic of Congo and CALLED for support to the Government of the DRC and the Region to combat the negative forces
WELCOMED the signing of the Kampala Accord and the Roadmap in the Somali Peace Process and URGED all the parties to work towards its full implementation
NOTED with grave concern the continued insecurity in Somalia and CONDEMNED in the strongest terms all attacks including terrorist attacks and kidnapping of individuals by Al Shabaab
CONDEMNED the acts of piracy off the Somalia Coast and the Indian Ocean and REITERATED the need to adopt a holistic and coordinated approach to deal with piracy
URGED Member States to implement the programme on Anti-Money Laundering under the Eastern and Southern African - Indian Ocean (ESA-IO) Regional Action Plan on Maritime Security in order to control and prevent the flow of illicit funds obtained from Piracy being invested in COMESA Member States and the funding for Piracy
EXPRESSED appreciation to the troops contributing countries to AMISOM namely Burundi and Uganda for their sacrifices they continue to make and URGED those African Countries that have pledged troops to avail them as soon as possible
ON COOPERATION BETWEEN COMESA AND PARTNERS
EXPRESSED APPRECIATION to the cooperating partners for their continued support to the implementation of COMESA programmes
ENDORSED the African Union/NEPAD Final Draft African Consensus and Position on Development Aid Effectiveness as a COMESA position for advocating at the Busan Conference
ON COMESA INSTITUTIONS
RECOGNISED with appreciation the progress made by COMESA Institutions in supporting the COMESA Integration Agenda
CONGRATULATED His Excellency President Robert Gabriel Mugabe and the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe on signing the Agreement Establishing the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI)
* Extracted from the FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE FIFTEENTH SUMMIT OF THE COMESA AUTHORITY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT. The full communique can be accessed in a pdf version here.
