Thursday, March 28, 2024

Mutati says achieving EPAs needs unity…

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Zambia says achieving deeper Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in the COMESA region calls for unity, cohesion and solidarity among COMESA member states.

Zambian Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Felix Mutati, notes that most member states in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region do not have a clear understanding of EPAs in the interim.

Mr. Mutati says there must be clarity among member states from the political view aspect, citing that communication was lacking when some COMESA member states signed the EPAs when member states met in Brussels.

Mr. Mutati said this in Lusaka today when he officiated at the COMESA meeting for Eastern and Southern Africa Council of Ministers.

Nine countries have signed the EPAs while the remaing seven are yet to sign due to, among other reasons, some countries not having market access offer.

Comoros, Burundi, Ethiopia Kenya, Malawi, Seychelles and Zimbabwe, are among some COMESA member states that have signed the EPAs while Zambia and other countries are still negotiating to sign the EPAs.

Mr. Mutati said the EPAs will, among other things, enable the COMESA region to reduce poverty levels as well as help attain the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Mr. Mutati, who is also COMESA Chairman on Trade, commended COMESA Secretary General, Erastus Mwencha, on his election as African Union Deputy Chairman, saying the position puts COMESA for a bigger integration in terms of trade within Africa and other European bodies.

Mr. Mutati further commended the peace-power sharing in embattled Kenya between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Odinga as well as wellcoming the inclusion of Malawian Trade Minister to COMESA.

And speaking earlier, COMESA Secretary General, Erastus Mwencha, said one major challenge the region is faced with is export taxes in achieving regional integration.

Mr. Mwencha said there is need for the COMESA region to put in place long term objectives in an effort for the region to make progress.

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