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Thandiwe Katinhimure, Business Reporter
THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) and the European Union (EU) have signed a €15 million deal to facilitate cross-border trade within the region.

The deal was penned recently at the Mwami Border post between Zambia and Malawi. The programme is financed under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) meant to increase formal small-scale cross-border trade flows in the Comesa region.

“It will support governance reforms, institutional capacity building, improved border infrastructures and better data collection and monitoring. Ultimately, it will result in higher revenue collection for governments at the borders and higher incomes for small-scale cross-border traders,” said Comesa.

It is hoped the programme will help curb corruption levels, bribery and harassment experienced by small-scale traders. It will also ensure that cross-border traders associations (CBTAs) and similar business associations in targeted countries have their capacities reinforced in a sustainable way to effectively defend the interests of their members and deliver appropriate support services. According to Comesa the signing of the agreement heralds the beginning of implementation of the planned activities at the border areas in the Comesa region.

“The beneficiaries are primarily small-scale traders, in particular women traders, that regularly cross the borders in the region to sell and buy goods, as well as the associations who represent them and defend their interests,” it said.

Under the programme, gender disaggregated statistical data and analysis on small-scale cross-border trade shall be systematically collected, compiled, harmonised and disseminated.

“The aim is to increase evidence-based knowledge on the topic and inform better trade policy-making processes at national and regional level as well as ensuring that adequate and gender sensitive basic border infrastructures for small-scale traders are built at selected border areas,” said Comesa.

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