COMESA ministers adopt regional industrialization strategy to bolster industrial development
COMESA Ministers responsible for industry have adopted the regional Industrialization strategy which defines key interventions at both regional and national levels to speed up industrial development in the region.
This adoption has been done following the decision of the COMESA Council of Ministers which directed the Secretariat to develop an implementing strategy of the COMESA Industrial Policy adopted by the same council in March 2015.
The Industrialization strategy is for a ten-year period from 2017 to 2026. This strategy aims at structural economic transformation for the creation of jobs and wealth in the region.
“This strategy has included various stakeholders who are important for its success. The document defines different responsibilities for the private sector as an engine in driving the strategy, Member States in creating an enabling business environment and COMESA Institutions are also involved,” COMESA Director of Industry Mr Thierry Mutombo said.
Taking into consideration their respective mandates, COMESA institutions have been given specific tasks to do in supporting the implementation of the strategy. The diaspora is part of the strategy because of their contribution in providing not only financial resources but also skills and technology capabilities.
The Ministers commended COMESA Secretariat for having efficiently improved the organization and running of the meetings and they urged Member States to proactively start implementing this strategy.
The meeting was attended by Ministers from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia. Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Rwanda, Swaziland and Zimbabwe were represented by Permanent Secretaries, High Commissioners and Ambassadors.
COMESA Institutions that attended the meeting are: the COMESA Business Council (CBC), the COMESA Competition Commission (CCC), the COMESA Monetary Institute (CMI) and the Leather and Leather products Institute (LLPI).
