Mubarak calls on COMESA Leaders to meet in Cairo
Egypt, Economics, 11/2/2000

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak invited leaders of COMESA countries to participate in the sixth summit in cairo next May.

This is the sixth summit of the common market for Eastern and Southern Africa COMESA.

Mubarak will give an impetus to this gathering and help open new markets for its member states in the middle east, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa told cairo radio Wednesday morning.

Egypt's chairmanship of comesa will provide further chances for Egyptian businessmen to get acquainted with African markets' potentials, Egypt's top diplomat said.

Speaking of the importance of the free trade area (FTA) of COMESA for Egypt, Moussa noted that it will help boost the Egyptian economy and trade and assist in integrating African markets.

The FTA, the first of its kind, will provide an advantage for Egyptian products and exports represented in cancelling all cutoms tariffs, he said.

No customs are imposed on Egyptian exports and that markets are open wide before them, he said, clarifying that the Egyptian economy is the strongest one in COMESA member states and that markets have become open wide before Egyptian products.

Moussa pointed out that the FTA started with nine countries and next year they will become 12 ones out of the COMESA 20 member states.

There is no contradiction between Egypt's participation in the hoped-for common Arab market, not set up yet, and the COMESA, he added.

What is important now is that a free trade area has opened its doors in capabilities, he said.

Meanwhile, Moussa on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the Egyptian trade and cultural center in Lusaka on a 15,000 square meter lot of land that the Zambian government donated to Egypt.

Egyptian ambassador to Zambia Abdul Ghaffar e1 Dib gave a reception on this occasion that was attended by a large number of Zambian and Arab officials.

The center will promote Egyptian-Zambian cooperation, Moussa left the Zambian capital yesterday after chairing Egypt's delegation to the COMESA summit.

Moussa left Lusaka Wednesday for home at the end of a visit to Zambia during which he presided over his country's delegation to the COMESA summit.

In a pre-departure statement, Egypt's top diplomat told reporters that he will report to President Hosni Mubarak on results of comesa meetings and the launching of the free trade area (FTA) among the gathering member states.

He added that he will forward another report on the outcome of his meetings with a number of COMESA heads of state and government including Sudanese President Omar a1 Bashir, Zambian President Chiluba and the premier of Mauritius.

Moussa added that he will convey to President Mubarak messages from president Chiluba and Mauritius' premier in reply to president Mubarak's messages to them on the FTA.

Previous Stories:
  40 Egyptian companies in COMESA fair tomorrow   (10/25/2000)
  Moussa meets with businessmen   (7/4/2000)
  Egyptian trade centers in Losaka; a holding company for export   (6/16/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search