As part of its long-term regional integration agenda, the Common Market for Southern and Eastern Free Trade Agreement (COMESA) Free Trade Area was launched in October 2000 following the decision of nine member states (Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe) to eliminate their tariffs on COMESA originating products.

At its core, the COMESA was created with a view to form a large economic and trading unit that can overcome barriers faced by individual states. The primary focus of the COMESA is to foster sustainable economic development as well as enhance security and stability through cooperation among its 21 Member States^*.

Following a meeting of the COMESA Council of Ministers held in May 2020, the setting up of an online portal to promote dissemination and sharing of information among its Member States was agreed upon. This further constitutes a means of business facilitation, with the 21 member states having the possibility to share their trade related regulatory measures in response to COVID-19, their potential to produce and supply different types of goods, especially the essential products, food supplies as well as connect buyers to suppliers thereby promoting and fostering regional intra-COMESA trade.

Further details can be accessed at below link:

COMESA Online Portal for COVID-19 Related Trade: HERE

^*21 Member States: Burundi, Comoros, D.R Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe