COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

FINAL COMMUNIQUÉÉÉÉ OF THE SIXTEENTH SUMMIT OF THE COMESA AUTHORITY

OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

Theme: ““““Enhancing Intra –––– COMESA Trade through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development””””

Kampala, Uganda 24th November, 2012

12-107(BC-FM-GM-mk)

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THE SIXTEENTH SUMMIT of the Authority of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) was held at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, in Kampala, in the Republic of Uganda from

23rd to 24th November, 2012 with the theme being: ““““Enhancing Intra-COMESA Trade through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise

Development””””. The Summit was attended by the following COMESA Heads of State and Government and Plenipotentiaries: His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda

His Excellency Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe

His Excellency Mwai Emilio Kibaki, President of the Republic of Kenya Her Excellency Mrs. Joyce Banda, President of the Republic of Malawi His Excellency Dr. Ikiliou Dhoinine, President of the Union of the Comoros His Excellency Dr. Eng. Gervais Rufyikiri, Vice President of the Republic of Burundi His Excellency Danny Faure, Vice President of the Republic of Seychelles His Excellency Hailemariam Desalegn Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia His Excellency Right Honourable Sibusiso Dlamini, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland His Excellency Damien Habumuremyi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda His Excellency Jean-Paul Nemoyato, Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC)

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His Excellency Abdi Ilimi Achkir, Minister of Commerce of the Republic of Djibouti His Excellency Robert Sichinga, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Salem, Minister of Communication and Information Technology of the Arab Republic of Egypt His Excellency Osman Omer Elsharief Minister of Trade of the Republic of Sudan His Excellency Stifanos Habte Ghebremariam, Minister of Trade and Industry of the State of Eritrea His Excellency Ambassador Anund Priyay Neewoor, Secretary for Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Mauritius His Excellency Hosni Hamouda Habib, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Libya The Summit was also attended by the following: Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission attended the Summit His Excellency Garang Diing Akuong, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment of the Republic of South Sudan His Excellency Sammuel Sitta, Minister for East African Affairs of the United Republic of Tanzania

The following countries were represented at the Summit: Bostwana, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Germany, India, Finland, France, Japan, Nigeria, Norway, Palestine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden South Sudan and United States of America The following Chief Executive Officers represented their Organisations at the Summit: Honourable Jesca Eriyo, Deputy Secretary General (Productive and Social Sectors) of the East African Community (EAC); Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomao, Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

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The following represented COMESA Institutions: Mr. Tadesse Admassu, President, Eastern and Southern Africa Trade and Development Bank (PTA Bank); Mr. Mahmoud Mansoor Ali, Executive

Secretary, COMESA Clearing House; His Lordship Justice Nzamba Kitonga (SC), Judge President, COMESA Court of Justice; Mr. George Oduori Otieno, Chief Executive Officer, African Trade Insurance Agency

(ATI); Mr. Michael Chikankheni, Chairman, COMESA Business Council; Mr. Chalimba Phiri, Chairman, COMESA Regional Investment Agency (COMESA-RIA); Dr. M. Charles Moturi, Chairman, Leather and Leather Products Institute (LLPI); Mr. George Lipimile, Director, COMESA Competition Commission; Mrs. Katherine N. Ichoya, Executive Director, Federation of Associations of Women in Business in Eastern and Southern Africa (FEMCOM); Dr. Chungu Mwila, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA); and Mr. Ibrahim Zeidy, Director, COMESA Monetary Institute The following represented their Organizations at the Summit: His Excellency Gilles Hervio, Ambassador of the European Union to Zambia and Special Representative to COMESA; Mr. Gabriel Negatu, Regional Director , African Development Bank (AfDB); Ms. Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, Deputy Secretary General, Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSEC); and Ms. Beatrice Kiraso, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) The following institutions were also represented; the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF); ; the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD); the International Monetary Fund (IMF); the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the United States Agency for International Development/Regional Economic Development Services Office for East and Southern Africa (USAID/REDSO/ESA); the World Bank (IBRD); the World Food Programme (WFP); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Trade Center OPENING OF THE SUMMIT WELCOME STATEMENT In his welcome address H. E. President Museveni expressed concern over the balkanization of Africa which has resulted in its weakness and

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called for robust programmes in order to promote unity and strength. He highlighted the political and economic aspects of regional integration and mentioned that COMESA focuses on Trade and Investment. He pointed out that regional integration provides a large market that supports significant levels of trade and investment and called for focused Programmes to build on entrepreneurship, access to finance and infrastructural development, covering railways, roads, energy and ICT. He ended his statement by indicting that the theme of the summit

“Enhancing Intra-COMESA Trade Through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development” has come at an opportune time that will enable the region to address the challenge faced by SMEs which constitute up to 90% of the private sector. Statement by Chairperson of the African Union Commission The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Her Excellency Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, in her statement called for a reflection on the position of Africa in the world on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU. Taking into account that it was founded on the principles of self reliance and unity, she called for programmes on food and nutrition security, infrastructure development, health service care, education and skills development beyond primary education. She also called upon COMESA to implement the programme on Gender parity, and commended the COMESA, EAC and SADC Tripartite Arrangement. KEYNOTE ADDRESS The outgoing Chairperson Her Excellency Mrs. Joyce Banda in her keynote address commended the progress that COMESA has made since it was found in 1982 to the establishment of the FTA 2000 and the launch of the customs union in June 2009. She called for the due implementation of COMESA programmes including the Customs Union. She welcomes the significant role that is now being played by women in the political and economic sphere and encouraged the implementation of programmes to promote gender parity. She also paid tribute to the late President Bingu wa Mutharika for his role in regional integration both in his capacity as the Secretary General of COMESA and later as its Chairperson. She highlighted the importance of enacting good constitutions that support smooth transitions as was the case in Malawi and Ethiopia following the untimely demise of the Heads of State of both countries.

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VOTE OF THANKS The Right Honourable Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland moved a vote of thanks on behalf of their Excellencies and on his own behalf. He expressed gratitude to His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for the manner he had conducted the deliberations of the Summit. He also expressed appreciation of the Authority to President Museveni, the Government and People of Uganda for the warm hospitality accorded to all the delegates to the Summit. He went on to call on all COMESA Member States to put regional integration as one of the priority areas in national development plans so that the COMESA Region becomes a fully integrated and competitive regional market with improved living standards for its people. AFTER THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE SUMMIT, THE AUTHORITY: ELECTED by acclamation His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, as Chairperson; His Excellency President Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as Vice Chairperson; and Her Excellency President Mrs. Joyce Banda, President of the Republic of Malawi as Rapporteur EXPRESSED gratitude to Her Excellency Mrs. Joyce Banda, President of the Republic of Malawi and Outgoing Chairperson of the COMESA Authority for her illustrious and outstanding leadership of COMESA for the period of 2011-2012 RECOGNISED and EXPRESSED gratitude to His Majesty King Mswati III, King and Ingwenyama of Eswatini, for his excellent and steadfast support and leadership on the COMESA Bureau as Vice Chairman, Chairman and Rapporteur of the COMESA Authority for the past four years NOTED the Report of the Secretary General on the State of Regional Integration in COMESA CONSIDERED AND ADOPTED the Report of the Thirty First Meeting of the COMESA Council of Ministers

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CONSIDERED AND ADOPTED the Report of the Twelfth Meeting of the COMESA Ministers of Foreign Affairs ON THE COMESA BUSINESS COUNCIL NOTED the conclusions and recommendations of the Eighth COMESA Business Forum ON THE COMESA ANNUAL REPORT LAUNCHED the COMESA Annual Report for 2011

ON THE COMESA FREE TRADE AREA

NOTED WITH SATISFACTION that intra-COMESA trade has increased to US $18.4 Billion by the end of 2011, signifying a recovery from 2009 when intra-COMESA trade was US $12.7 billion due to the global financial crisis and economic recession. ACKNOWLDGED the important role that MSME play in COMESA economies and their contribution to job and wealth creation. URGED Member States, in collaboration with the Secretariat, the Private Sector and other partners to implement programmes on capacity building on entrepreneurship and management skills for MSMEs. CONGRATULATED Uganda upon joining the COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA) COMMENDED the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the progress made towards joining the COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA) CALLED for an elimination of all Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs) constraining intra regional trade, with a specific focus on enhancing market access opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including the strengthening of systems and mechanisms for mutual recognition of Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards and measures. CALLED upon the PTA Bank and financial institutions in Member States to provide financing to MSMEs at affordable rates and DIRECTED that a

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detailed report on MSMEs capacity building and entrepreneurship and utilization of Regional and International markets be submitted to the next Summit of the COMESA Authority. URGED COMESA Member States to continue Consolidating the COMESA Free Trade Area by removing all Non Tariff Barriers(NTBs) using the Tripartite Online Reporting and Monitoring Mechanism URGED COMESA Member States to finalise the Draft Regulations on Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs) ON THE COMESA CUSTOMS UNION EXTENDED the transition period for the Customs Union by a further two years and called for the adoption of a comprehensive Roadmap for the two-year period to address outstanding issues and concerns NOTED progress in the development of the Common External Tariff (CET), Common Tariff Nomenclature (CTN) and Customs Management Regulations (CMR) ON THE TRIPARTITE FREE TRADE AREA RECALLED that the Second COMESA, EAC, SADC Tripartite Summit held in Sandton, South Africa had accepted the offer from Egypt to host the Third Tripartite Summit. DIRECTED that the Secretariat in collaboration with the EAC and SADC should work with the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt to ensure that the Third Tripartite Summit is a resounding success. NOTED WITH SATISFACTION that the preparatory period for the Tripartite FTA negotiations has been completed and that the Tripartite Trade Negotiation Forum (TTNF) has agreed on the Trade and Tariff information that will form the basis of the negotiations WELCOMED the establishment of the Three (3) Technical Working Groups (TWGs) to undertake technical work in the areas of Rules of Origin (RoO); Customs Cooperation; and NTBs, TBTs and SPS Measures; and noted with satisfaction that these groups have started their work in earnest

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CALLED for the expeditious completion of the negotiations in accordance with the roadmap that was adopted by the Second Tripartite Summit in June 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa

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ON COOPERATION WITH OTHER REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES NOTED WITH APPRECIATION the continued collaboration between COMESA and the other regional economic communities in Africa, particularly, within the frameworks of the COMESA- EAC- IGAD -IOC under the Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC) URGED for the strengthening of this cooperation with a focus on harmonization and coordination of programmes for the mutual benefit of Member States ON THE AFRICA GROWTH OPPORTUNITY ACT (AGOA) COMMENDED the USA Government for extending the Third Country Fabric Provision to 2015 and URGED the USA Government to extend AGOA on a long term and predictable basis URGED the USA to take into account the preference erosion to Africa-AGOA eligible countries before extending similar preferences to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in other regions ON MULTILATERAL AND OTHER TRADE NEGOTIATIONS URGED Member States to adopt and advance evidence-based common objectives in negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) ON COMESA AID FOR TRADE

ENDORSED the COMESA Aid for Trade Strategy for 2012 – 2015 as a tool for effective resource mobilization, donor coordination as well as strengthening synergies between national and regional development programmes URGED Member States to actively participate in the Fourth WTO Global Aid for Trade Review in 2013 in order to enhance mobilization of aid for trade resources

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ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION ENDORSED the establishment of the COMESA Innovation Council, Innovation Fund and the Annual Innovation Award, and APPOINTED Members of the Innovation Council. WELCOMED the partnerships with various collaborating partners such as African Union Commission, NEPAD Agency, UNESCO, UNECA and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government AND INSTRUCTED the Secretariat, working closely with the Member States, to mobilize resources and create synergies with them in order to harness relevant innovations and skills for the development of the COMESA region CONVEYED gratitude to Member States that offered their national centers of excellence to be designated as COMESA Regional Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Centers of Excellence ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ENDORSED the COMESA Guidelines for preparation of national Intellectual Property policies and laws in various areas such as bio-piracy, counterfeits, access to medicine, and the implementation of the new Article 31 bis of the TRIPS Agreement, to enable Member States have access to affordable life saving medicine and promote MSME development in the pharmaceutical sector ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ENDORSED the decisions to fast track the implementation of hardware infrastructure projects in railways, energy, roads and ICT DIRECTED the Secretary General of COMESA to liaise with the Chairperson of the AUC and other RECs and other partners to ensure that resources are mobilised for hardware infrastructure projects during the tenure of Uganda as Chairperson of COMESA

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RECOGNISED the crucial role of transport and communication in economic integration and trade promotion, COMMENDED the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe on the successful implementation of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) facility at the Chirundu- OSBP Border posts and urged Member States to replicate the facility WELCOMED the decisions taken by Council on corridor development and management, railway development, transit transport instruments, maritime, air transport, ICT trade facilitation, migration from analogue to digital broadcasting and adoption of the Association of Regulations for Information and Communication in Eastern and Southern Africa (ARICEA) Host Agreement ENDORSED decisions to facilitate the establishment of the knowledge communities for consolidation of peace and development COMESA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND NOTED with appreciation the progress made in the preparation of the Information Memorandum for raising the initial capital by the COMESA Infrastructure Fund and CALLED upon the PTA Bank to establish synergies between the Bank and the COMESA Infrastructure Fund, which is located in Mauritius URGED the COMESA Fund Ministerial Committee to consider developing synergies between the Fund and the PTA Bank ON AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT (ON THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL (FCTC)) NOTED the importance of the tobacco industry as one of the major sources of employment, foreign exchange earnings, and an important business base for COMESA Region

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URGED World Health Organisation and Member States to consider the balance between public health, fiscal policy and agriculture realities and the impact of World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) guidelines on revenue and foreign exchange earnings CALLED for evidence-based assessment of economically sustainable alternative livelihoods to tobacco cultivation in consultation with all impacted stakeholders including growers, key tobacco producing countries, tobacco merchants and manufacturers ON CLIMATE CHANGE COMMENDED efforts made by the Secretariat in support of the inclusion of agriculture on the agenda of the Conference of Parties, COP 18 CALLED on developed Annex (i) Parties to honour their commitment to avail US$ 30 billion annually to support climate change adaptation in developing countries DIRECTED the Secretariat to broaden the climate change programme scope to coastal protection and integrated water resources management ON GENDER AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS STRESSED the importance of enhancing the participation of Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs) in intra-COMESA Trade with a focus on the youth and women URGED for the speedy implementation of the Women Economic Empowerment Fund ON INTER-COUNTRY MARKETS ON BORDER AREAS COMMENDED the Republic of Zambia for its initiative to establish inter country markets on borders with its neighboring eight Countries CALLED upon other COMESA Member States to emulate the initiative so as to promote employment and wealth creation especially among women and the youth

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DIRECTED the Secretariat to work with Member States in the development of a model for inter-country markets to be used by Member States

ON DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE

REITERATED the importance of democracy and good governance as a basis for sustainable peace, security and stability and development and URGED Member States to continue to strengthen democratic processes at the national level CONGRATULATED His Excellency President Joseph Kabila on his re-election as President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo for holding peaceful and successful presidential and legislative democratic elections on 21st November, 2011 CONGRATULATED His Excellency President Mohammed Morsi on his election to the High Office of the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and congratulated the people of the Arab Republic of Egypt for holding successful, peaceful and democratic elections on 16th and 17th June, 2012. CONGRATULATED Right Honourable Ali Zeidan upon his election as Prime Minister of the Republic of Libya and COMMENDED the people of the Republic of Libya for successfully holding democratic Constituent Assembly Elections on 7th July, 2012. CONGRATULATED Her Excellency President Mrs. Joyce Banda upon her assumption of the High Office of President of the Republic of Malawi and COMMENDED the people of the Republic of Malawi for a successful and peaceful transition of power upon the demise of the late President Professor Bingu Wa Mutharika CONGRATULATED the Right Honourable Hailemariam Desalegn upon his assumption to the High Office of Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and COMMENDED the people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for a successful and peaceful

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transition of power after the demise of the late Prime Minister, Menes Zenawi

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PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILITY REITERATED the paramouncy of peace and security for creating an enabling environment for investment and sustainable economic development EXPRESSED concern over the delays in the implementation of the roadmap signed in Antananarivo on 16th September, 2011 and REAFIRRMED its commitment to supporting the ongoing mediation efforts by the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that are aimed at restoring constitutional Order to Madagascar URGED all stakeholders in Madagascar including the international community to remain committed to the agreed roadmap and its full implementation in order to avert the tragic socio economic consequences arising from the persistence of the crisis Further URGED all stakeholders in Madagascar to ensure that the forthcoming elections are held under free and fair conditions and CALLED on COMESA and the International Community to lend support to the electoral process CONDEMNED in the strongest terms all negative forces including

Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR),the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and M23 Rebel Group that are destabilizing the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes Region in general and in particular CONDEMNED M23 rebel movement for violation of cessation of hostilities by capturing the City of Goma disregarding ceasefire brokered by the Chairperson of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region EXPRESSED concern over the worsening security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC and the resumption of the hostilities by M23 and CALLED UPON the M23 to immediately withdraw from all occupied areas and allow ICGLR mechanism to intervene in finding a durable solution through a political and diplomatic process

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COMMENDED the key role played by His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, in his capacity as Chairperson of the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in spearheading the ICGLR peace initiative on the security situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo NOTED the role played by the ICGLR towards the resolution of the crisis

at the eastern DRC and REITERATED COMESA’s full support towards the process WELCOMED the recent encouraging developments in Somalia and CONGRATULATED President Hassan Mahmoud Sheick upon his election and the formation of a new government COMMENDED COMESA Member States namely, Burundi, Djibouti Kenya, Ethiopia Kenya and Uganda, for contributing troops to AMISOM and the extra ordinary sacrifices made in terms of human life and resources in efforts to stabilize Somalia PAID TRIBUTE to all fallen soldiers on duty under AMISON and CONVEYED CONDOLENCES to their families EXPRESSED concern over repeated terrorist attacks by Al Shabaab on innocent civilians in the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Uganda CALLED on COMESA Member States to continue working with the African Union and other Regional Organizations in addressing the problem of Terrorism in the COMESA Region EXPRESSED gratitude to International Partners, particularly USA, EU and the UN for extending their support towards the elimination of Lords Resistance Army FURTHER EXPRESSED concern on the continuing acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia and the Indian Ocean and URGED the International Community to urgently release resources to address the problem through the implementation of the Eastern and Southern Africa Indian

Ocean (ESA–IOC) Maritime Security Plan of Action developed by COMESA and its partners

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CALLED for the international community to work with COMESA, the

African Union ,her regional partners in the Eastern and Southern Africa –Indian Ocean configuration, and Member States to intensify efforts to

implement the ESA –IO Maritime Security Plan of Action and strategy URGED COMESA to fully and expeditiously implement its aspect of the ESA- IO Maritime Security Plan of Action and Strategy on Anti Money Laundering Programme in order to ensure that proceeds from piracy are not used, invested or disposed in the COMESA Region FURTHER URGED the international Community to work with the Region to intensify efforts in addressing the root causes of piracy especially development issues in Somalia APPEALED to all countries and organizations that pledged support to Union of Comoros to honour their commitments made at the Doha Donor Conference and for more partners to render their support to the country in its post conflict and construction office CONDEMNED attacks by Israel on the Yamuk Industrial Complex in the Republic of Sudan by Israel and CALLED on the United Nations Peace and Security Council to take action on the complaint lodged by the Republic of Sudan WELCOMED the progress made by the governments of Sudan and South Sudan in negotiations under the auspices of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to fulfill their obligations under the African Union Roadmap and Security Council Resolution 2046 URGED both the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan to faithfully implement the agreements that have been concluded ON COOPERATION BETWEEN COMESA AND PARTNERS EXPRESSED APPRECIATION to the cooperating partners for their continued support to the implementation of COMESA programmes ON COMESA INSTITUTIONS

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RECOGNISED with appreciation the contribution made by COMESA Institutions in supporting the COMESA Integration Agenda COMMENDED the Central Banks of Mauritius and Rwanda for going live on the Regional Payment and Settlement System (REPSS) on 3rd October 2012 URGED the other Central Banks to expedite their going live on the Regional Payment and Settlement System, for the benefit of the entire region COMMENDED the Government of the Republic of Malawi for allocating land for the construction of a FEMCOM Complex CONGRATULATED Mr. Tadesse Admassu from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on his appointment as the new President of PTA Bank CONGRATULATED Mr. Mahmood Mansoor from the Republic of Mauritius on his appointment as the new Executive Secretary of COMESA Clearing House CONGRATULATED Mr. Ibrahim Zeidy from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on his appointment as Director of COMESA Monetary Institute ON ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS RENEWED the contract of Mr. Sindiso Ndema Ngwenya, of the Republic of Zimbabwe, as Secretary General of COMESA for a further period of five years starting from 1st July 2013 to 30th June, 2018 APPOINTED Ambassador Dr. Kipyego Cheluget of the Republic of Kenya as Assistant Secretary General (Programmes) APPRECIATION EXPRESSED appreciation to His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta MUseveni, the Government and People of the Republic of Uganda for the warm and fraternal hospitality extended to all delegates

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CONDOLENCES EXPRESSED condolences to the President, Government and People of the Republic of Malawi on the death of President Bingu Wa Mutharika, former President of the Republic of Malawi and former Chairperson of the COMESA Authority and Secretary General of COMESA EXPRESSED condolences to the Prime Minister, Government and People of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on the death of the late Prime Minister, Right Honourable Meles Zenawi, former Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia VOTE OF THANKS His Excellency Jean Paul Nemoyato Minister Economy and Commerce of the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) moved a vote of thanks to the host President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for the warm hospitality and excellent facilities put at their disposal since their arrival. He informed the Summit that on behalf of H.E Joseph Kabila Kabange and the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, his country was grateful for the opportunity to be elected vice chair of COMESA and assured the Summit of the readiness of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to host the COMESA Summit to be held in Kinshasa in 2013.

He also informed the Summit that the Democratic Republic of Congo

commends the leardership of the H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for the

efforts being made in the framework of the International Conference for

the Great Lakes Region for the restoration of peace and stability in

Eastern Congo, so as to create condition for accelerating the integration

process and the development of the COMESA region.

He indicated that the Summit had confidence that the Chairman would take COMESA to greater heights during his Chairmanship. CLOSING OF THE SUMMIT In closing the Summit, His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda commended the progress made in the implementation of COMESA programmes and the Tripartite Arrangement. He also emphasized the need for expeditious implementation by Member States of all the Decisions of the Summit. He

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underscored the importance of achieving greater strides in peace and security. He further emphasized the importance of programmes for supporting the business community especially MSMEs in areas such as access to finance and strengthening of regional capital markets. He said that the opportunity for the business community to network and establish linkages and partnerships will enable the region to move to greater heights.

The Authority ADOPTED its Final Communiqué as read by the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Honourable Amelia Kyambadde, M.P., Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives of the Republic of Uganda. DONE at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, Kampala, Uganda on the Twenty-Fourth day of November, 2012 in the Arabic, English and French languages, and all texts being equally authentic.