The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has pledged to continue supporting productive capacities in order to enhance economic growth in the region.
COMESA Secretary General, Chileshe Kapwepwe, says this is because the regional economic bloc recognises the important role that enhanced productivity sectors play in fostering development through the value chain.
Ms Kapwepwe said this in Lusaka today, when she held a meeting to update Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to COMESA on the upcoming 23rd COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit to be hosted by Burundi.
She explained that most COMESA member states have been adversely affected by the changes in the weather pattern that also affected production in certain sectors, hence the need to focus more on sectors that are resilient and can still contribute to economic growth.
Meanwhile, Ms Kapwepwe has called on member states to offer their support towards the hosting of the 23rd COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit which will take place on October 31, 2024.
She noted that the agenda of the summit will be reviewing the state of COMESA integration, priority issues on programmes and activities and reports from the Council of Ministers and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs as well as a Declaration from the COMESA Business forum.
She explained that during the summit Burundi President, Evariste Ndayishimiye, is expected to take over Chairmanship of COMESA from President Hakainde Hichilema and henceforth Burundi will be Chairing COMESA technical and policy meetings.
She added that preceding the Summit, COMESA will also hold its 19th Meeting of Minister of Foreign Affairs which will review the status of peace and security in the region with a focus on the situation in Libya, Sudan, Eastern DRC, Somali, Terrorism, Negative Forces in the region, Climate Change and elections in the region.
Ms Kapwepwe further stated that during the summit, COMESA will hold a business forum which is a high-level dialogue that focuses on engaging public and private stakeholders on solutions that propel and transform COMESA member states into competitive and sustainable growing economies for regional and global trade including investment expansion.
She also announced that COMESA lined up a number of activities to celebrate its 30th anniversary since its transformation from the Preferential Trade Area in 1994.