Comesa introduces new staff passports

Bus1Oliver Kazunga  Acting Business Editor
THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has introduced a new electronic travel document for its staff to ease their travel while on business missions in member states.The document, which is called Machine Readable Travel Document (MRTD), will replace the Laissez Passer that was not widely accepted as it lacks compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

“A new electronic MRTD will be provided to Comesa staff to ease their travel on official assignment in member states.  The new document is consistent with modern technology for travel document and comes with enhanced security features,” said Comesa in a statement.

Three key requirements for the document would include a three-letter ICAO code, approved technical design of a travel document and the integrity of the processing system.

“In making the decision, the Comesa Council of Ministers meeting in Lusaka on December 8 to 9, 2014 noted that ICAO had issued a deadline of April 30, 2015 for phasing out the issuance and use of travel documents that aren’t compliant with MRTD standards,” said Comesa.

Meanwhile, Comesa is setting up a $250 million fund for small and medium enterprises in the bloc to boost productivity.

It’s hoped that funds under the resources would assist different sectors of the economy with a view to improving productivity through value addition and beneficiation.

At present, SMEs dominate regional economies and the unavailability of funding to support their operations has been the major impediment in realising their full potential.

In Zimbabwe, the government recognises the critical role played by SMEs in economic development and contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.

Against this background, the government is in the process of formalising SMEs  operations.

The informal industry employs 5,7 million consisting of 2,9 million people employed by the SMEs sector while 2,8 million are self-employed.

 

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