COMESA

Seychelles joined the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in September 1997 when it acceded to the COMESA Treaty. The COMESA Treaty was subsequently ratified in March 1998. With its 19 Member States, COMESA has a population of over 389 million, an annual import bill of around US billion, and an export bill of US billion. Member states include: Burundi, Comoros, D.R. Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Libya, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The current COMESA Secretary-General is Mr. Sindiso NGWENYA.

COMESA’s strategies and objectives are outlined within the COMESA Medium Term Strategic Plan 2011 – 2015, through the following six priority areas: Removing Barriers to Factor Mobility, Building Productive Capacity for Global Competitiveness, Addressing Supply-Side Constraints Related to Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Cross Cutting Issues and Institutional strengthening. To achieve its objectives, COMESA has initiated and implemented a number of programmes, in which Seychelles is actively participating in.

1. Free Trade Area (FTA): Launched in October 2000, the FTA has 15 members currently: Djibouti, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbawe Burundi and Rwanda, Comoros and Seychelles. Seychelles joined the COMESA FTA on 11thMay 2009.
2. Customs Union
3. COMESA Common Investment Area
4. Common Market
5. Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)
6. Regional Approach to Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy in Eastern and Southern Africa (RABESA)
7. Enhancing Procurement Reforms & Capacity Project
8. COMESA Innovation Council
9. COMSTAT
10. COMESA REPSS
11. Regional Investment Area (RIA)

COMESA is also assisting Seychelles in combating piracy through the MASE Programme.