Egypt to host second conference for COMESA next year

The first regional economic conference of the joint markets for countries of eastern and southern Africa, COMESA 2000, concluded its work yesterday in Cairo by agreeing on convening a periodic conference for Comessa every year at the same time.

It was decided that Egypt will host the second conference next year.

Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Ebeid said in the concluding session that his country is ready to contribute to establishing the first fund for technical aid for the COMESA countries aiming at encouraging free trade and removing obstacles to increasing the volume of commercial exchange and joint investment, as well as conveying technology among the group's countries.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa asserted that the assembly will open wide door for free trade by October 31 and start a different stage of economic cooperation.