Highlights:- * President Kabila reaffirms DRC’s Commitment to COMESA * COMESA and Finland exchange notes on areas of co-operation * COMESA/AfBD cement relations via the regional Public Procurement Project

1. newsletter
1
Issue #251 --21st MayOctober 2007
Issue #126 Friday 19 2010 newsletter
President Kabila Kabange reaffirms
DRC’s Commitment to COMESA
The President of the Democratic
Republic of Congo H.E. Joseph Kabila
Kabange met the Secretary General of
COMESA Mr Sindiso Ngwenya on 19th
May 2010 in Kinshasa and reaffirmed
his country’s support and commitment
to the Common Market for Eastern and
Southern Africa.
During the meeting, Mr. Ngwenya
thanked the President for the warm
hospitality granted to him and to his
entire delegation since he arrived in
Kinshasa.
He also informed His Excellency that the
Tripartite Summit COMESA-EAC-SADC
From left: RIA Manager Mrs Heba Salama, H.E. Joseph Kabila Kabange President of the DRC, Secretary General Ngwenya and Snr Investment
was postponed and would take place Promotion Officer at the COMESA Secretariat Mr Thierry Mutombo Kalonji with the President after the meeting
between October and November at the
Tripartite. King of Swaziland to attend the COMESA
date to be advised by His Excellency
Summit scheduled to take place in
Jacob Zuma, the current Chairman of
Mr. Ngwenya further pointed out the Mbabane, Swaziland, from 31st August
the Tripartite Summit and President of
fact that in line with the participation to 1st September 2010, the COMESA
South Africa.
of the DR Congo in the FTA/Customs Secretariat is highly expecting His
Union which will be soon a great FTA/ Excellency to personally attend the
Then, Mr. Ngwenya informed President
Customs union within the framework event.
Kabila Kabange about COMESA’s
of the Tripartite, COMESA has funded
support to the DRC efforts for
an impact study. The study is currently Senior Investment Promotion Officer
increasing budget resources through
completed and submitted to the at the COMESA Secretariat Mr. Thierry
the modernisation of the Customs
Ministry of Finance; and a workshop Mutombo and Regional Investment
Administration (DGDA) by expanding
with all the stakeholders both public Agency (RIA) Manager Mrs. Heba Salama
the ASYCUDA programme in other main
and private sectors, is scheduled to take accompanied Mr Ngwenya to meet
provinces of the country. To that effect
place in coming months. President Kabila Kabange who is also
a proposal of 7,000 Euros has been
the current Chairman of the Southern
submitted to European Commission
Mr. Ngwenya also recalled the COMESA African Development Community
with the technical assistance of UNCTAD.
Trading for peace project those object (SADC).
is to facilitate cross-border trade
Mr. Ngwenya also commended the
(Simplified Trade Regime) between His Excellency President Kabila Kabange
current efforts of the Government of the
DR Congo and Rwanda, Burundi and thanked the Secretary General for willing
DR Congo, to improve the infrastructure
Uganda. to meet him during his visit to Kinshasa.
network. To that effect, he recalled the
He explained to the Delegation the
pledges of 2.7 billion US$ following
The Secretary General informed His difficulties which the country faced
the donor conference held in 2008, in
Excellency that following the invitation during the last two decades. He pointed
Lusaka, Zambia, in line with the North-
extended to him by His Majesty, the out that those difficulties including due
South Corridor, in the framework of the
continued to page 3
This bulletin is published by the COMESA Secretariat Public Relations Unit but does not necessarily represent views of the Secretariat.
For Feedback: pr@comesa.int
Contact Address : COMESA SECRETARIAT, COMESA Center , Ben Bella Road
P.O. Box 30015, 260 1 229 725, 260 1 225 107
www.comesa.int
www.comesa.int, e.COMESA@comesa.int

2. COMESA and Finland exchange notes
2 on areas of co-operation
Acting Secretary General Ambassador Nagla El Hussainy, Finnish Director of the Department of Africa and Middle East Mr Jorma Suvanto and
Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Madam Sinnika Antila at the Secretariat
A delegation from the Finnish North-South Corridor, Climate
Government met the COMESA Change and the regional Aid for Mr. Suvanto informed the
Assistant Secretary General Trade Initiative. meeting that they had an Energy
Ambassador Nagla El Hussainy and Environment Programme
on 19th May 2010 to consult Detailed presentations were where a Fund for renewable
with COMESA on areas of mutual given to the Finnish delegation energy had been established and
interest, where the two sides on the COMESA Climate Change applications were being invited
could collaborate. Initiative covering Climate
Change negotiations and The delegation thanked the
Ambassador Nagla and her team capacity building, Conservation Acting Secretary General and
welcomed the Finnish delegation Agriculture, Carbon Trading said the areas discussed were of
to the Secretariat which was led and the Carbon Fund. The great interest to them and that
by Mr Jorma Suvanto Director in Infrastructure Development they would be factoring these in
the Department for Africa and Division team briefed the their proposed cooperation with
Middle East/Unit for Southern delegation on the progress COMESA.
Africa. made on corridor development
in the region including One Other notables in the meeting
Mr Suvanto noted that COMESA Stop Boarder Posts as well were Her Excellency Madam
was an increasingly important as the Energy Programme of Sinnika Antila, the Finnish
partner for Finland and hence COMESA: regulatory matters, Ambassador to Zambia, Malawi
the request for the meeting. Of Energy Infrastructure and trade and Zimbabwe. Dr Mclay
particular interest to the Finnish in energy as well as Renewable Kanyangarara, Advisor in the
delegation was infrastructure Energy. COMESA Climate Change Unit
development, especially the was also present with his staff.
www.comesa.int

3. COMESA/AfBD cement President Kabila
Kabange reaffirms
relations via the regional DRC’s Commitment 3
Public Procurement Project to COMESA
from page 1
to the war and political instability caused
a delay in the development process.
However, the country is now recovering
and is in the right path, through peace
and security restored.
His Excellency informed the delegation
that given the size of the country, many
borders are still porous, and advised that
before participating to FTA, it is desirable
to control the borders and the resources
of the country.
In response, the Secretary General
highlighted that the challenges facing
the country are real and COMESA
COMESA Assistant Secretary General Administration and Finance Ambassador Nagla El Hussainy handed is committed to address some of
over the keys of the AfDB funded EPRCP project vehicle to COMESA Assistant Secretary General for them. The Impact study is going to
Programmes Mr Stephen Karangizi. Director fo Administration at the Secretariat Mrs Victoria Mwewa (in red
scarf) was joined by colleagues from the Secretariat and AfDB to witness the occasion
come up with the constraints and the
means to address them, including the
The COMESA Secretariat officially reaches stakeholders at all levels
competitiveness of the industries which
handed over a brand new vehicle to to ensure comprehension of the are not able to sustain the competition
the Enhancing Procurement Reform reform process. from the strong firms from outside.
and Capacity Project on 19th May
2010 at the COMESA Secretariat in The EPRCP is also implementing an He mentioned that with the COMESA
Lusaka. COMESA Assistant Secretary awareness programme designed to Fund, North-South Corridor, some of the
General Administration and Finance empower the private sector given infrastructures in East-southern part of
Ambassador Nagla El Hussainy its critical supply role in the public the DR Congo will be addressed. Also,
the support of the SMEs dealing with
handed over the keys of the vehicle procurement process. Secondly,
the agro-products will be addressed by
to COMESA Assistant Secretary the project supports legislation
the COMESA Summit in Swaziland which
General for Programmes Mr Stephen development at national level and
will focus on Science and Technology
Karangizi. implement modern and harmonised development.
public procurement systems. Thirdly,
The EPRCP is supported by the the project will strengthen the While in the Democratic Republic
African Development Bank (AfDB). institutional capacities through of Congo, the COMESA delegation
The projects aims at enhancing training, which is intended to also met the Minister of International
and consolidating procurement create capacity to support and and Regional Cooperation Raymond
reforms that were commenced sustain good procurement practices Tshibanda, H.E. Cesar Lubamba, Minister
of Urban and Housing and H.E. Bernard
under the Public Procurement at national and COMESA levels.
Biando Sango Minister of Trade.
Reform Project. The EPRCP focuses Fourthly, the project will upgrade
on four principal areas. Firstly, it the procurement information
entails the sensitisation of key system with capacity to publicise Events
policy makers and executives and host national procurement • 31st May to 1st June
on the need for review of laws, information on the website. The Launch of the CAADP Process
policies and procedures that are project components are: Enhancing in the Democratic Republic of
not compliant with the modern Procurement Reforms; Capacity Congo
public procurement framework that Building; Upgrading Procurement • 24th to 26th May Tripartite
was developed under the PPRP. The Information Systems; and Project Meeting on Procedures for
project will deepen and broaden Management. Harmonization of Standards for
the awareness and sensitisation For more information contact :cziki@ Staple Foods. Nairobi Kenya
programme and ensure that it comesa.int
www.comesa.int