Zimpapers Logo

Sindiso Ngwenya

THE International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost intra-Africa trade in the economic regional bloc.The MoU will enable the two organisations to design and implement the trade-related technical assistance across 19 member                states. ITC and Comesa which will build on past partnerships, have pledged to co-operate in regional integration, trade facilitation, improving small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) competitiveness and enhancing trade and investment climate.

Comesa secretary-general Sindiso Ngwenya said particular attention will be placed on promoting product development and value addition in the agriculture and service sectors. Ngwenya said the ITC-Comesa partnership will help develop and create capacity for national and regional initiatives to increase competitiveness.

“We intend to use the partnership as a key component to increase the quality of products and improve productivity. Comesa and ITC will help African entrepreneurs develop creative solutions and innovations that better meet consumers’ expectations and demands,” he said.

Ngwenya said many African entrepreneurs lack specialised skills when it comes to effectively advertising their products. In most cases, the products have less impact on the market due to poor packaging.

Commenting on the partnership, ITC executive director Arancha González  said the MoU will help strengthen the  existing co-operation in achieving economic growth through trade and SME competitiveness.

“Expanding intra-African trade holds the key to growth in African countries. Regional economic commissions such as Comesa are critical in ensuring coherence between national and regional initiatives and in supporting SMEs in Africa achieve competitiveness,” González said.

She said the partnership is particularly, important for the region’s smaller economies, whose prospects will improve as regional integration creates larger markets and more opportunities for regional value chains.  – BH24