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THE COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA (COMESA)

WHAT IS COMESA?

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) was established in 1984 as a strengthened successor to the Preferential Trade Area founded in 1981 for the countries in eastern and southern Africa. Recognizing the potential benefits of regional trade to their economies and peoples, 20 countries now make up COMESA: Angola; Burundi; Comoros; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Egypt; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Kenya; Madagascar; Malawi; Mauritius; Namibia; Rwanda; Seychelles; Sudan; Swaziland; Uganda; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.

COMESA’s objectives include:

  • A full free trade area guaranteeing the free movement of goods and services produced within COMESA and the removal of all tariffs and non-tariff barriers;
  • A customs union under which goods and services imported from non-COMESA countries will be subject to an agreed single tariff in all COMESA states;
  • Free movement of capital and investment supported by the adoption of common investment practices in order to create a more favorable investment climate.
  • Gradual establishment of a payments union based on the COMESA Clearing House and the eventual establishment of a common monetary union with a common currency;
  • The adoption of a common visa arrangement, including the right of establishment leading eventually to free movement of bona fide persons.
In 2000, nine COMESA member countries formed the COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA), which eliminated tariffs on goods that conform to COMESA rules of origin. The FTA members are Djibouti; Egypt; Kenya; Madagascar; Malawi; Mauritius; Sudan; Zambia; and Zimbabwe. Also in 2000, COMESA signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the United States Trade Representative that establishes a TIFA Council for a structured dialogue on trade and investment issues.

The COMESA secretariat is located in Lusaka, Zambia.

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