The Republic of Djibouti participated in the 25th summit of heads of state and government of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in Harare, Zimbabwe. The summit brought together leaders and representatives of member states to discuss ways to enhance regional economic integration, develop trade exchanges, and expand cooperation among countries in the region. Djibouti's delegation was led by Minister of Trade and Tourism, Orbis Heil Orbis, representing President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh.
The summit was held under the theme "One Market, One Future," emphasizing the importance of uniting African efforts to promote economic integration, facilitate trade, and develop partnerships that support growth and common development. The event provided an opportunity for member states to reaffirm their commitment to enhancing regional economic integration, revitalizing intra-regional trade, and developing regional value chains.
During the summit, the heads of state and government approved a project to establish a new COMESA headquarters. The project involves a 14-hectare plot of land granted by the Republic of Zambia. This move aims to support the organization's operations and enhance its institutional capacity to drive regional economic integration.
The summit concluded with the handover of the COMESA chairmanship from Kenya to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe will lead the organization for the next year, in line with the rotational presidency of the economic community. On the sidelines of the summit, Minister Orbis held bilateral meetings with the COMESA Secretary-General and the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In his meeting with the COMESA Secretary-General, Minister Orbis discussed ways to further integrate the regional market and revitalize trade exchanges among member states. He also explored how Djibouti can leverage its strategic location as a logistics and commercial hub to serve regional trade and enhance connectivity between regional and international markets.
The minister's meeting with the AfCFTA Secretary-General focused on accelerating the practical implementation of the agreement. They discussed developing national programs to help member states convert continental commitments into tangible trade opportunities, enabling national companies to benefit more from the African market and expand access to continental markets.
Djibouti's participation in the COMESA summit demonstrates its commitment to contributing to African economic integration efforts, promoting trade and development partnerships, and enhancing cooperation among member states. This aligns with the country's goal of supporting sustainable development in the region.
Key points
- Djibouti attends the 25th COMESA summit to promote regional economic integration and trade development.
- The summit approves a project to establish a new COMESA headquarters in Zambia.
- Djibouti's minister holds bilateral meetings with COMESA and AfCFTA secretaries-general to enhance cooperation.
