COMESA REGION GEARED TOWARDS RENEWED FOCUS ON ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH TRADE AND TRASIT FACILITATION The 43rd COMESA Council of Ministers Meeting that was held early this month called for the need to establish and implement interventions that promote establishment of a regionally integrated, diversified and competitive production capacity anchored on agriculture, industry and services sector. These remarks were made by the Zambian Republican Vice President, her Honour Ms. Mutale Nalumango in her official opening remarks. ''Prioritisation should be based on value addition, diversification, innovation and common regional standards, all with due consideration to protection of our environment, she stated''. Key issues on the agenda were a report from the intergovernmental committee covering progress reports on the implementation of COMESA Programmes. The committee is comprised of Permanent Secretaries whose meeting preceded the Council of Ministers. Read more here |
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| 4THGERMAN AFRICAN BUSINESS SUMMIT UNLEASHES THE ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN AFRICA AND GERMAN As the largest in-person networking event for German business in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, this year's 4th Germany Africa Business Summit attracted influential speakers, business leaders and government representatives from Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa. Highly interactive and participatory deliberations, plenary and breakout sessions, business partner day, discussion sessions, forums and exhibitions characterized Summit that was held in Johannesburg, South Africa between the 6th and 8th of December 2022. Key highlights of the summits were anchored on numerous forums that provided opportunities for information exchange, networking and establishment of collaborations and business partnerships. Key on the agenda was the issue of exploring the possibilities of how African governments can create sustainable partnerships with the German Government directed towards the production, export of supply of Green Hydrogen. Panel discussions ranged from issues on Green Hydrogen, Renewable Energy, Africa Continental Free Trade Area and Building Sustainable Value Chains among other topics. Read more here |
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TOWARDS INCLUSIVE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN COMESA |
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CBC staff pose for a group picture with representatives from BDI during its planning meeting |
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In our continued efforts of promoting inclusive private sector participation and development in the region, we took time to reflect on strategies and impactful ways of facilitating the process. This was achieved through our brainstorming sessions and strategic mapping of our roadmap for 2023 with one of our strategic partners, Federation of German Industries. The fruitful and productive deliberations were anchored on insights, survey interviews and reviews from the private sector community geared towards establishing innovative services and programmes that will help spur private sector development and ultimately economic growth. Top on the agenda was implementation of strategic programmes such as effective Advocacy for members’ interests, trade facilitation and capacity building programmes for the Private Sector that will contribute to effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). This is envisaged to contribute to building a competitive and vibrant private sector in the COMESA region that contributes to sustainable development. |
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ARE YOU LOOKING INTO ENGAGING AN AUTONOMOUS, NON-GOVERNMENT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION A MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION CENTER? The Mediation and Arbitration Center (Mauritius) Ltd (MARC) has firmly established itself as an autonomous, non-government Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) solution since 1996. Established at the initiative of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it has been resolving commercial disputes as far back as 1851. Located in Mauritius, at the crossroads between Asia and Africa, the MARC is your perfect solution for dispute resolution through mediation, or arbitration as opposed to courts. Efficient business dispute resolution is now increasingly being recognised by business operators worldwide as part of key management considerations. The MARC has evolved throughout the years and revamped its structure in 2017 before releasing a more modern and adapted set of procedural rules in 2018, in English, French and Mandarin respectively. The MARC Court, currently headed by Mr. Neil Kaplan CBE KC SBS, has been operational since 2017 and is composed of 17 eminent experts in the field of arbitration from across all continents. For more information on the procedures and cost of arbitration, please visit the MARC website at www.marc.mu |
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| THE PROUDLY ZAMBIAN LOCAL CONTENT INITIATIVE |
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The Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) through the Proudly Zambian Campaign (PZC) has been implementing the Local Content Advocacy Initiative (LCAI) with the goal of increasing the uptake of local goods and services in both domestic and regional markets. The main objective of local content initiatives is to promote local sourcing, local procurement as well as local business linkages. Under the Proudly Zambian Campaign (PZC), these initiatives have taken the form of advocacy through local content conferences and expos. These conferences and mini expos have acted as a bridge between local producers, consumers and various stakeholders. More importantly, local content development remains an important aspect of development planning due to its ability to promote economic growth, industrialization and poverty reduction. In 2022, the Campaign in partnership with various stakeholders hosted the Public Sector Local Content Conference and Mini Expo (Full Story: Read more here |
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2022 MANUFACTURERS WEEK: SHOWCASING ZAMBIAN MANUFACTURING In week of 14th-18th November 2022, the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) Successfully hosted the Annual Manufacturers Week which was held under the theme “Shifting the Paradigm Towards Export Led Industrialisation”. Among other things, the Week aimed at: - Developing policy action points to direct growth of the manufacturing sector by both Government and the private sector
- Showcasing high-quality locally produced goods and services.
- Promoting a culture of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) amongst local manufacturers.
- Promoting quality and standardisation of locally produced goods.
The COMESA Business Council Chief Executive Officer, Teddy Soobramanien and the Policy and Advocacy Manager, Dickson Poloji, participated in the round table discussions and made a presentation on Illicit Trade in which CBC highlighted the need for enforcement of regulations on Illicit Trade across the region. For more information about the Zambia Association of Manufacturers visit their website on http://zam.co.zm |
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From left to right is the CBC CEO with the Policy Manager, Dickson Poloji during the ZAM manufacturers week |
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US. AFRICA LEADERS SUMMIT-TOWARDS STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS FOR ADVANCING SHARED PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT GOALS |
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CBC president Marday Venkatasamy third from far left and his vice Dr. Amany Asfour fourth from right takes on a group photo with other delegates. |
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The United States Africa Leader's Summit and Business Forum held late this month, December 2022, in Washington DC underscored the United States’ commitment towards strengthening partnerships with African states and institution. The event was addressed by H.E President Biden of USA and H.E President Macky Sall President of Senegal and Chairperson of African Union in presence of more than 40 African Heads of States and Governments. Africa business Council President, Dr Amany Asfour emphasised the role of Africa and U.S private Sector collaborations towards increasing investment and trade in Africa as well as empowering the African private sector community. And COMESA Business Council President, Mr. Marday Venkatasamy who participated in a high-level panel discussion on Increasing African-US Private Sector Collaboration Towards Strengthening Investment and Trade in Africa re-echoed the need for strategic partnerships between Africa and the US. ''Notwithstanding that the U.S. and COMESA have a strong trade and investment relationship under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) signed in 2001, and also that 15 COMESA Member States have market access to the U.S. market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), there is still plenty of untapped potential for enhanced trade between the two regions and called for the following in order to fully exploit the opportunities therein he stated. The Summit organized by Africa Business Council in collaboration with African Union Commission of Trade Industry Economic Development Mining and Tourism International Trade Centre ITC. Read more here |
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50 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO THE CONGOLESE PRIVATE SECTOR: WHAT TO REMEMBER! |
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FEC National President, Chancellor of National Orders and former FEC leaders pose for a group photo on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the FEC |
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The Federation of Enterprises of Congo (FEC) celebrated its fiftieth anniversary marking its Golden Jubilee mid this year in the sumptuous setting in Kinshasa DRC. Created in 1972 under the appelation of National Association of Enterprises of Zaire, "ANEZA”, FEC is the most representative professional organization of the private sector in the DRC. It results from the merger between the Federation of Provincial Associations of Enterprises of Zaire (FERZA) bringing together the Association of Belgian Colonial Interests (AICB) and the Association of Industrial Interests of Congo (AIIC) as well as the Association for the promotion and advancing the Interests of Traders (APRODEIC). Being both a Chamber of Commerce and an Employers' Union, the FEC is a close partner of the government in the accompaniment and supervision of enterprises with the aim of meeting the interests and needs of the general socio-economic welfare of the country. The celebration was an opportunity for a retrospect into the Federation and to share with its partners and stakeholders the vision of the Federation for its future, especially with its RENAISSANCE project. On the side-lines of this celebration, the Chancellery of National Orders awarded medals of civic merit to former LEADERS of the FEC, Past Presidents, Deputy Directors, General Secretaries, and Most Senior Directors. For an overview of the main actions and activities of the FEC since1972 follow the link below: https://bit.ly/3GW4AeR |
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OUR 2022 MILESTONES IN PART.............. |
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TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe on 7th November 2022, welcomed the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the COMESA Business Council Mr. Teddy Soobramanien. Mr. Soobramanien has over 25 years of international experience in trade negotiations, policy implementation, business development, and organizational management. |
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COMESA S.G third from far left takes a group photo with the new CBC CEO second from far right with other COMESA staff |
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2023 ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES TO LOOK OUT FOR .......................... |
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 Launch of our Business Advocacy Strategy
COMESA Summit & Source 2021 Capacity building trainings on Market Access and Local Sourcing for partnerships Business forums, Trade exhibitions, expors and summits Wayward on AfCFTA and trade facilitation Enforcement of regulations on Illicit trade Membership drives, trade missions and B to Bs Webinars on various trade and investment related topics Stakeholder engagements on our Digital Financial Inclusion programme For these and more, visit our website on www.comesabusinesscouncil.org |
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About COMESA Business Council:
CBC is a business member organization bringing together a diverse group of businesses and associations in the region from 34 sectors in 21 countries of COMESA. CBC is the recognized regional apex body of the private sector in the region. CBC as the key advocacy driver for business, provides a link between the private sector and organs of the Common market. We seek to improve the competitiveness and deepen the participation of the private sector in regional and global trade, through advocacy, business facilitation and enterprise development. This includes prioritizing and taking specific advocacy strategies to address key business impediments and measures that affect our industries and have a direct bearing on the participation of our businesses in trading in the COMESA region.
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COMESA Business Council, COMESA Center
Ben Bella Road, P.O. Box 30051, Lusaka, Zambia |
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| Tel: +260 211 229725/32, Ext: 7542 +260 761 228 754
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| www.comesabusinesscouncil.org |
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