COMESA and the Indian Ocean Commission renew cooperation
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretariat and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) have reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration as they both implement regional integration programmes.
Since 1999, the two organisations have been collaborating in areas of peace, security, capacity building, promotion of free trade, customs cooperation and the establishment of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) platforms for island countries, with a view to improving rules of origin and trade facilitation.
This was revealed during a consultative between COMESA Assistant Secretary General for Administration and Finance Dr Dev Haman and Prof. Vêlayoudom Marimoutou the Secretary General of the IOC held on 9 January 2024 in Ebene Mauritius.
“Both parties acknowledged the need to strengthen the COMESA/IOC cooperation within the context of modernising and restructuring the IOC and enhance collaboration and jointly implement integration and cooperation strategies in order to support economic growth,” read the statement issued at the end of the meeting.
In view of this development, COMESA and the IOC agreed to review the areas of cooperation in line with their strategic development plans. They will soon conclude a work plan which will include reciprocal exchange letters of credence, signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and establishment of a technical committee.
