COMESA precursor meeting, exhibition kick off today

Farirai Machivenyika

Senior Reporter

The COMESA Summit kicks off in Harare today with the Green Industry Connect at the Rainbow Towers, which is part of the build-up to the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit on Thursday.

The event, which is running concurrently with a three-day Multi-Sectoral International Exhibition, is already fully subscribed and will be followed by a business forum on Tuesday that is also sold out. The meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs is slated for Wednesday before the main event on Thursday, where President Mnangagwa will assume the chairmanship of the economic bloc.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira told our sister paper, The Sunday Mail, that all was set for the events that will be held ahead of the 25th Summit of the Heads of State and Government on Thursday.

“The first step is the Green Industry Connect, which is going to happen on Monday (today) and is fully subscribed — over 100 percent subscribed. Then we have got the Business Forum, which is going to happen on Tuesday and is also oversubscribed, almost 130 percent plus. It will then be followed by the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs. The purpose of the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs is to prepare the agenda and draft decisions for Excellencies,” said Prof Murwira.

“Then on Thursday, the summit (for the Heads of State and Government) will happen. The business part of COMESA is going to take place at the Rainbow Towers — that’s our venue. The summit and the meeting of Foreign Ministers is going to happen at the new Parliament Building.

“As for delegates coming from Monday up to Thursday, we expect more than 1 000 delegates to come for the COMESA Summit. Everything is going on very well.”

ZNCC is playing a critical role in the preparations for the mega event as a co-host and organiser of the 19th COMESA Business Forum and Multi-Sectoral International Exhibition.

ZNCC chief executive Advocate Christopher Mugaga said the focus of Green Industry Connect is on sustainable business practices within the COMESA regional bloc.

“Focus will especially be on the comparative advantage that Zimbabwe has, particularly in the leather industry,” he said.

“You will realise that we have made a lot of strides, especially within our neighbouring countries, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi, regarding developing and growing the value chain.

“So you will realise that one of the agenda items tomorrow (today) at Green Industry Connect will be premised around the leather industry and how we can grow it as a regional value chain instead of a stand-alone value chain.

“It is also an opportunity for us to embrace green practices, as you know that sustainability is the biggest winning area within the private sector and working with Governments within Comesa, we look forward to deliberating on areas around environmental changes, the green economy and seeing how we can sustainably grow our economies as we divorce from traditional sources of energy to drive economic growth.”

The 19th Business Forum, which will be held tomorrow (Tuesday), will provide a platform for business and policymakers to engage on practical measures to resolve barriers to trade and investment.

The forum will feature activities that include the Green Industries Connect and the International Multisectoral Exhibition, which will bring together businesses, policymakers and other stakeholders to explore opportunities in sustainable production, circular economy practices, resource efficiency and responsible management of industrial waste.

The regional bloc, which has a combined population of about 640 million people and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of US$1,23 trillion, offers Zimbabwe major economic, strategic and industrial advantages as it takes the chairmanship for the 2026-2027 term.

As chair, Zimbabwe will prioritise tariff reduction and the elimination of non-tariff barriers at the top of its agenda.

Under the COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA), qualifying Zimbabwean goods can be exported to member states free of customs duties, making local products highly competitive.

The country is actively implementing the COMESA Electronic Certificate of Origin and digitalised customs networks, which will cut paperwork and speed up border clearances, while the tripartite Simplified Trade Regime under COMESA makes it substantially cheaper and easier for small to medium enterprises and informal cross-border traders to conduct regional trade.

Source: COMESA precursor meeting, exhibition kick off today – herald

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