Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit

Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021

- President El-Sisi Presides Over COMESA Summit

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi presides over the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit, with the participation of the heads of state and government of the bloc's member states.

The Spokesman for the Presidency stated that the COMESA Summit, taking place in the New Administrative Capital, will witness the handover of the COMESA’s chairmanship to Egypt. The President will also launch the medium-term strategic action plan 2021-2025 for the COMESA, which seeks to deepen economic and regional integration as well as development among the member states, in harmony with the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

- President El-Sisi's Opening Speech at the COMESA Summit

“In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful"

His Excellency, President Andry Rajoelina

President of the Republic of Madagascar, and Chairperson of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Your Highnesses, Heads of State and Government of COMESA

Mrs. Chileshe Kapwepwe, COMESA Secretary General

Heads and Representatives of regional and international organizations

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me pleasure to welcome you today at the 21st COMESA Summit, which Egypt is honored to host. I would have liked to receive you all here today, but developments pertinent to the coronavirus pandemic and related precautionary measures prevented this from happening. This prompted us to set a mechanism to convene the summit with a limited participation, hoping that when the next summit takes place, God will have saved us from this pandemic.

At the outset, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to His Excellency President Andry Rajoelina, the President of the Republic of Madagascar, for his genuine efforts during his country’s chairmanship of the COMESA and for the subsequent concrete achievements realized to strengthen regional economic integration. I would like to reiterate that Egypt will continue to work diligently during its COMESA chairmanship to build on what has been achieved in order to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the peoples of member states.

Allow me to welcome their Excellencies, the Heads of State and Government, who are leading their countries’ delegations for the first time, wishing them all success, and looking forward to working together to boost regional economic integration.

I would also like to thank the COMESA Secretariat for its persistent keenness to follow-up on the implementation of the treaty to establish the common market. This is in addition to holding periodic meetings and working in exceptional circumstances due to the challenges imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Your Excellencies… Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am confident that our meeting today will result in practical, constructive recommendations that serve the goals of regional economic integration. I reiterate that the government and people of Egypt welcome all the participating delegations in the 21st COMESA Summit, wishing you all success.

Thank you and peace be upon you

- President El-Sisi's Speech on the Occasion of Egypt Assuming the COMESA Chairmanship

“In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful"

His Excellency, President Andry Rajoelina

President of the Republic of Madagascar, and Chairperson of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA),

Your Highnesses, Heads of State and Government of COMESA member states,

Mrs. Chileshe Kapwepwe, COMESA Secretary General,

Heads and Representatives of regional and international organizations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Regional and global economies have witnessed many developments since the last COMESA summit convened in July 2018, in Lusaka, Zambia. The Continental Free Trade Area was put into effect in January 2021. The significant progress in continental economic integration was coupled with many challenges that faced the region’s countries and the entire world, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In spite of efforts exerted at the international, continental and regional levels to combat this pandemic, the region still faces its negative repercussions. Recovery is slow, which adds many responsibilities to this summit, requiring concerted efforts to counter these challenges. This is what the summit’s theme embodies; “Building Resilience Through Strategic Digital Economic Integration”.

In addition to the pandemic’s direct impact on the health and lives of citizens, it has affected various economic sectors and the business climate in different member states. This led to receding regional demand and supply, affected by a global recession in demand and supply. Supply chains of many commodities have also been affected.

As a result of these challenges and in light of the important role that the COMESA undertakes as a regional economic bloc that seeks to achieve sustainable development for the member states, Egypt has developed its vision with the aim of deepening business integration among the region’s countries to accelerate economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Egypt views that encouraging business, from a comprehensive perspective including trade, investment and production, will significantly contribute to expediting the pace of recovery.

Therefore, we share joint responsibility as leaders of the region. We must capitalize on the COMESA to develop urgent policies and action plans to facilitate business and encourage the private sector to integrate and open prospects for business integration in the region. This shall contribute to stimulating local and regional demand and increase production rates and hence positively reflect on operation rates and citizens’ standard of living in the member states.

Therefore, Egypt’s vision for the COMESA chairmanship targets proposing a number of initiatives to contribute to deepening integration in a number of priority economic sectors among the COMESA countries, both in the long and medium terms. Allow me to share with you briefly the main features of Egypt’s vision for the chairmanship of the COMESA.

First: Achieving Regional Economic Integration and Eliminating Customs Obstacles

Egypt firmly believes in the importance of regional and continental integration and constantly seeks to develop intra-trade within this integration. Egypt has been keen since joining the COMESA to apply customs exemptions, agreed upon within the framework of the free trade area according to the principle of reciprocity. Egypt seeks to coordinate with the member states and the Secretariat General to work on eliminating any obstacles that prevent the member states from providing the necessary exemptions. I proposed, in this regard, putting mechanisms to periodically review the trade policies of the member states. This shall contribute to the effective participation of countries in applying customs concessions within the framework of the free trade area of the COMESA region. Egypt will seek to follow-up on this mechanism, in cooperation with the Secretariat General and the member states. Egypt will also place significant attention to enhancing continental integration, within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area. This is in addition to benefiting from progress made within the framework of the COMESA regional integration in supporting the three regional blocs; the COMESA, the East Africa Community and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as encouraging signatory countries to the Free Trade Area Agreement for the three blocs to ratify the agreement to be implemented and to enter into force.

Second: Industrial Integration

There is no doubt that our cooperation to increase intra-trade requires increasing productivity and cooperation in the various manufacturing sectors and benefiting from the available resources in the region’s countries and their competiveness in increasing industrial production, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, which affected regional and international supply chains. Without-doubt, this pandemic will work on restructuring these chains in accordance with the ability of national economies to recover and their advantages and competitiveness. This can be used by the COMESA countries to deepen joint industrial cooperation.

Consequently, Egypt prepared the regional industrial integration initiative, in line with the COMESA Industrialization Strategy 2017-2026 and Africa Development Agenda 2063, with the aim of sharing it with the member states and the Secretariat General to put an implementation plan to achieve industrial integration and increase productivity, under the label "Made in COMESA”. This initiative seeks to examine the available resources in the bloc’s countries and determine their comparative advantage to integrate the targeted industrial sectors in regional and international value chains. I, therefore, call on the leaders of the member states and the Secretariat General to capitalize on this initiative and put an implementation plan in the short and long terms to assist the industrial sector and the business community in the COMESA.

Third: Integration in Infrastructure Sectors

Egypt is keen on strengthening cooperation with member states as well as the General Secretariat and its institutions so as to advance economic integration in the infrastructure sectors, particularly transport, energy, communications and IT. Egypt has achieved a significant leap in this regard in the past period. It is fully prepared to cooperation with COMESA countries to share expertise and enhance joint cooperation in these sectors, taking into consideration the importance of the infrastructure integration among the region’s countries so as to ensure boosting intra-trade and the movement of goods, commodities, and elements of production. Egypt will work diligently with member states and the General Secretariat to encourage land connectivity projects among the continents countries, primarily the Cairo-Cape Town Road project, which passes through most COMESA countries.

Egypt will also seek to complete efforts to finalize a feasibility study for the establishment of the navigational line between Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean Sea as one of the ambitious projects to facilitate movement of trade and people between the community’s countries. Egypt will also work to transfer its expertise in the sectors of electricity and energy to member states and encourage all initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges of energy deficit facing member states.

Fourth: Encouraging the Flow of Investments in the Region

Encouraging and attracting investments into the COMESA region require exerting more efforts by member states and the General Secretariat to leverage the unique characteristics of COMESA countries. We have noted that the lack of data for investment opportunities constitutes an obstacle, hampering the development of investments in the region. Therefore, Egypt will work on supporting and encouraging the General Secretariat to cooperate with member states to prepare a list of clear investment opportunities to present it to the business community and funding institutions so as to work on its implementation, thus contributing to increasing economic growth rates, and generating more jobs for the bloc’s citizens.

Fifth: Integration in the Health Sector

The repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic have underscored the importance of regional integration and joint action to address them and to protect our citizens’ health. This, Egypt believes, must be studied by the common market swiftly and a clear plan must be developed to promote regional integration in this sector. This is in addition to aligning national policies to ensure facilitating the access of medical and pharmaceutical products among member states. We should also work toward increasing the awareness of the bloc’s citizens to benefit from the coronavirus vaccines to prevent its spread in COMESA countries.

Sixth: Spurring the Business Community in the Common Market

The business community is the key actor and the prime beneficiary from COMESA’s common market agreement. Egypt is placing huge interest on removing any impediments facing businesses in the bloc and believes that the integration of businesses is an urgent need to accelerate the pace of recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. To achieve this, Egypt will work during its bloc’s chairmanship on encouraging all initiatives that contribute to creating a conducive business environment, particularly initiatives targeting digital transformation and financial inclusion to serve small- and medium-sized companies. This is in addition to all initiatives aimed at encouraging the participation of women and young entrepreneurs in the process of economic integration and intra-investment of the private sector in the various production sectors.

During its COMESA chairmanship, Egypt will also work on boosting the Egyptian business community’s engagement with its counterparts in the bloc to benefit from the advantages offered by the agreement for Egyptian and member state’s companies and to work on increasing intra-trade in line with the principle of mutual benefit, in the interest of all.

Your Excellencies.. Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am confident that COMESA has the capabilities, resources and potential that qualify it to surmount the current challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic and to move forward on the path of economic integration. Egypt is pleased to assume COMESA’s chairmanship at this time and work together with all parties to eliminate all impediments, and capitalize on all opportunities available to expedite the recovery from the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The implementation of our vision to push forward economic integration during the chairmanship of the bloc can only be achieved by joint cooperation among all member states, the Secretariat General, its institutions and development partners. Therefore, I call on you all to work together to stimulate businesses in the COMESA region and overcome all challenges, which will positively reflect on our peoples’ standard of living and prosperity.

Allow me at the end of my speech to thank you, once more, for your confidence in Egypt to chair the COMESA in the coming period. I ask God Almighty to grant us success in this mission for the benefit of our peoples and countries.

Thank you for listening

Peace be upon you

- President El-Sisi’s Speech at the COMESA Summit Closing Session

“In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful"

Heads of State and Government,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to extend to you all my sincerest gratitude and appreciation for your efforts and for the fruitful and constructive discussions you held today to finalize our agenda. Also, allow me to express my gratitude to all of you; COMESA Secretary General, all members of the General Secretariat and everyone who contributed to the preparation and organization of our summit today for the great efforts exerted to make the summit a success, despite the current formidable challenges imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

What we have achieved today demonstrates a true will and a firm determination of COMESA member states to realize regional economic integration in the area, by adopting the best practices and policies to free trade among our countries, upgrade the infrastructure, achieve industrial development, and work toward attracting more investments to the region. This summit came up with tangible results represented in the launch of the COMESA medium-term Strategy 2021-2025, which came as evidence of a clear and thoughtful vision by all member states to enhance joint cooperation in all fields.

Therefore, it has become imperative that we take the necessary measures that will enable us to fully apply the free trade agreement among COMESA countries in all member states. This is the goal which, by its achievement, will turn intra-trade into a major drive that will boost production rates and enhance production and industrial integration among member states. This will reflect positively on the coveted economic and social development and ensure prosperity, and decent life for our peoples.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Realizing the highest levels of regional economic integration in the COMESA region compels us all to make room for all the key players who directly participate in achieving economic development in the member states. On top of which is the private sector and business community, due to their vital and efficient role in enhancing intra COMESA trade. Therefore, strengthening communication with the private sector and business community in the COMESA countries, knowing their aspirations and eliminating all obstacles that they face are key goals that must be achieved and integral to the success of applying regional economic integration policies, adopted within the COMESA region.

In this context, we must laud efforts exerted by the COMESA Business Council and its constant keenness to search for the available and possible opportunities to enhance engagement among the business sectors in member states.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Stemming from the importance of the COMESA to Egypt’s national economy and the responsibility we shoulder to contribute to realizing the COMESA goals during the year of our presidency of the community, and in light of the endeavors and goals presented to you-that we hope to achieve in a number of proposed fields for further development during this year- I call on all of you to participate in implementing this vision and assist in achieving these endeavors and goals in a way that serves the interests and goals of the COMESA community and peoples of the member states.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Before concluding, we cannot forget congratulating the judge of the COMESA Court of Justice on assuming her post, the new commissioners at the COMESA Competition Commission and the members of the COMESA Committee of Elders. We ask God to grant them success in their new duties, for the benefit of the peoples of the member states.

I would also like to congratulate the recipients of the creativity awards and the COMESA media awards, noting their role as well as the role of various media in serving the community’s goals for economic integration.

At the end of this fruitful day, I would like to seize the opportunity before the conclusion of the summit to invite you all to participate in the implementation of Egypt’s vision to realize the COMESA endeavors and goals in a manner that serves the interests of its peoples. We also confirm Egypt’s full support and continued assistance to all the African peoples in their pursuit towards achieving continental and regional economic integration. We have confidence in the strength and determination of the continent’s peoples to lead their countries towards achieving peace, security, stability and justice, being the pillars for realizing economic development.

In conclusion, I announce the closing of the 21st COMESA summit and pray to God to assist us in fulfilling the aspirations of our peoples.

Thank you.

Peace be upon you.

- President El-Sisi Meets Madagascar's President on the Sidelines of COMESA Summit

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina on the sidelines of the COMESA Summit in the New Administrative Capital.

President El-Sisi welcomed the President of Madagascar, lauding his COMESA chairmanship over the past period. The President also commended Egypt’s firm relations with Madagascar and confirmed its keenness on fostering closer cooperation between the two countries in various fields, notably in trade, providing technical support and capacity-building.

President Rajoelina expressed his deep appreciation for Egypt, its government and people, valuing the outstanding friendship relations and brotherly bonds the two countries share. He underlined his commitment to further advancing relations across all levels, particularly in the various developmental and technical areas.

The two sides discussed important dossiers on the COMESA agenda. Those include efforts to strengthen ongoing efforts to achieve economic integration and regional amalgamation. The President of Madagascar emphasized his confidence in Egypt’s ability to further advance joint cooperation within COMESA, particularly in light of its remarkable success to lead joint African action during its AU chairmanship in 2019.

The meeting also tackled a number of issues pertinent to bilateral relations, notably security, economic and development issues. This is in addition to continental dossiers of mutual interest. There was an alignment in views with regard to the need to continue consultations and coordination so as to contribute to fulfilling the aspirations of the African peoples toward achieving prosperity and development.

- President El-Sisi Meets President of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Manafi

Today, President El-Sisi met with President of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Manafi, on the sidelines of the COMESA Summit in the New Administrative Capital.

The Spokesman for the Presidency said the President welcomed Mr. Al-Manafi in Cairo. The President lauded Mr. Al-Manafi’s recent participation in the Paris Conference on Libya, which confirmed the importance of holding national elections as scheduled in December 2021. This gave a positive signal regarding the support of the Presidential Council in Libya to the democratic process, and its commitment to the implementation of the provisions of the national roadmap, despite numerous domestic challenges in this regard. President E-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s full support for the political trajectory to settle the Libyan crisis as well as its commitment to enhancing the firm coordination with Libya during the coming period.

The President of the Libyan Presidential Council congratulated President El-Sisi on assuming COMESA’s chairmanship, looking forward for this chairmanship to push forward development and regional integration. He stressed his country’s profound appreciation, at the official and popular levels, to Egypt’s vital role under the leadership of President El-Sisi to restore peace and stability in Libya, given the brotherly and historic bonds the two countries share. Mr. Al-Manafi also stressed his keenness on continuing intensive consultations with Egypt on the path toward holding elections in Libya on time to ensure a better future for the Libyan people.

The meeting reviewed efforts to restore security and stability in Libya. President El-Sisi asserted that Egypt’s prime goal is to achieve peace and security for the brothers in Libya and reinforce the will of the Libyan people. He affirmed that the supreme interests of the state of Libya come first, noting that those stem from the principles of maintaining the unity and territorial integrity of Libya, restoring security and stability there and ending foreign intervention.

- President El-Sisi Meets COMESA Secretary General

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met in the New Administrative Capital with COMESA Secretary General, Mrs. Chileshe Kapwepwe.

The Spokesman for the Presidency said the President confirmed that during its COMESA chairmanship, Egypt is determined to exert utmost efforts to continue the development in the various issues on the organization’s agenda, particularly by focusing on the sectors of economic integration and regional amalgamation. President El-Sisi asserted that Egypt looks forward to firmly coordinating and cooperating with the COMESA Secretariat in the coming period, so as to achieve the coveted objectives of Egypt’s chairmanship of the bloc on the path toward implementing Africa Development Agenda 2063 and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This aims to serve the interests of the bloc’s African member states and fulfil the aspirations of their peoples, notably in light of this critical and historic phase, which poses formidable challenges that impact the future of the entire continent, particularly with regard to efforts to address the repercussions of the coronavirus on African countries.

For her part, Mrs. Kapwepwe underlined Egypt’s significance and leverage in the African continent, notably as it is one of the founding members of the Organization of African Unity, which constituted the first pillar for joint African action. She expressed optimism regarding Egypt’s COMESA chairmanship to support efforts toward the application of Africa Development Agenda 2063, given President El-Sisi’s experience and thoughtful vision in dealing with African issues. COMESA’s Secretary General stressed the Secretariat’s support for President El-Sisi in his mission to steer the bloc’s collective action, taking into consideration the remarkable Egyptian hallmark in efforts to boost economic integration plans in the continent, develop its infrastructure, and boost intra-trade in addition to Egypt’s commitment to achieving a significant leap in this area, notably during its AU chairmanship.

The Spokesman noted that the meeting reviewed the main priority issues of the Egyptian chairmanship of COMESA. Those include strengthening the organization countries’ resilience in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and any similar challenges in the future; enhancing regional supply chains among member states; boosting industrial integration; and increasing investment in cross-border infrastructure. This is in addition to connectivity projects; focusing on cooperation in the fields of digital transformation and linking them with trade mechanisms; and relying on more sustainable production techniques, in light of Egypt’s hosting of the next round of the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the UNFCCC.

The meeting also tackled ways to capitalize on COMESA’s entry into the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, taking into consideration the importance of the Free Trade Agreement between the three blocs, COMESA, SADC, and the EAC, which was launched in Sharm El-Sheikh in June 2015. This forms the major foundation for the framework encompassing the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, the executive phase of which was also launched by Egypt during its AU chairmanship in 2019.

There was an agreement on the need to continue intensive consultations and engagement during the coming period to ensure a smooth decision-making process through the Egyptian COMESA chairmanship and to benefit from the Secretariat’s coordination role in this regard. This will help bolster ongoing efforts to achieve regional amalgamation and contribute to achieving the coveted goals of COMESA countries.