Mubarak to open COMESA Summit on May 22

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will open on May 22 meetings of the 6th summit of the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The two-day summit will be held under the title "Free Trade Area.. A Launch into Investment."

Egypt, which hosts the summit for the first time since it had joined the grouping in 1998, invited leaders of 20 African countries and heads of regional and international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

In February 2000, Cairo hosted COMESA's first regional economic forum, which was opened also by President Mubarak. The 6th summit marks an important turn towards development of trade and investments among members of the community and a beginning of a drive towards the establishment of a customs union to face the inflow of foreign imports.