COMESA Agreement Overview

A regional trade organization established in 1994 to replace the Preferential Trade Area (PTA) and foster economic integration in Eastern, Southern, and Northern Africa.

The main aims of COMESA include promoting free trade, removing trade barriers, encouraging cooperation, and improving competitiveness among member states.

COMESA is made up of 21 countries located in Eastern, Southern, and Northern Africa, including significant economies like Egypt, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

COMESA aims to create a unified market that stimulates regional trade and investment, fostering sustainable economic growth.

Before COMESA, the PTA limited Egypt's trade to a select number of countries under preferential tariffs, primarily for basic goods.

COMESA expanded Egypt's market access to over 500 million people across 21 nations, allowing for a wider range of goods and services, boosting trade opportunities.

The PTA focused on reducing tariffs without deep integration. COMESA aims for a customs union and common market, facilitating free movement of capital and labor.

COMESA initiatives like the Simplified Trade Regime make it easier for small-scale traders to engage in cross-border trade.

One of the primary reasons for countries joining COMESA, allowing member states to trade goods with minimal tariffs and barriers.

A key feature of COMESA promoting regional economic integration by easing movement of goods, services, and people across borders.

The initiative by COMESA to improve transportation, energy, and communication infrastructure across member states.

The process of aligning regulations and standards within COMESA member states to create a more unified economic environment.

Countries in COMESA often have complementary economies, allowing them to trade goods and services more effectively.

COMESA's goal to create a single market for goods and services within member states, reducing trade barriers and fostering greater economic integration.

One of the key reasons for forming COMESA - enabling countries to access larger markets and benefit from expanded trade opportunities.

COMESA seeks to create a customs union, where member states adopt a common external tariff for goods entering from non-member countries.

COMESA's efforts to enhance transport and energy infrastructure within its member states, aiming to connect nations and decrease trade costs.

COMESA's initiatives to modernize customs procedures and streamline border processes, leading to reduced delays and increased competitiveness for member countries.

Challenges like political instability, economic disparities, inadequate infrastructure, and non-tariff barriers hinder COMESA's progress toward its goals.

COMESA's positive impact on its members' economies through increased intra-regional trade, boosted industrial production, and higher foreign direct investment.

Kenya, Egypt, and Zambia are notable examples of COMESA member states that have significantly benefited from increased market access and regional trade expansion.

COMESA's role in linking its members to the global economy through trade agreements with other regions, such as the European Union, and adherence to global trade regulations.

COMESA's participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) demonstrates its commitment to broader continental economic integration.

COMESA's adherence to World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations ensures that its policies are aligned with international trade norms.

The COMESA Agreement, signed in 1998, brought Egypt into the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), making Egypt a founding member of the COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA) in 2000.

Under the COMESA FTA, Egypt offers complete tariff exemption on goods imported from other member countries, like Kenya, Zambia, and Sudan, provided they have a certificate of origin.

Egypt exports various goods to COMESA countries, including building materials, chemicals, food, and pharmaceuticals, while importing coffee, tea, tobacco, and livestock.

Egypt benefits significantly from the large COMESA market, with a population of over 380 million. However, challenges like the trade decline during the COVID-19 pandemic persist.

Even though most goods enjoy tariff exemptions within COMESA, there are restrictions on specific items. For example, Sudan and Kenya have protective measures on imports like sugar and wheat flour from Egypt.

COMESA's future priorities include deepening regional integration by moving towards a customs union and ultimately a common market.

COMESA invests in infrastructure projects, mainly in transport and energy, to improve connectivity among member states.

COMESA is expected to be a key player in Africa's broader integration efforts, particularly in the AfCFTA, which aims to create a continent-wide free trade area.