Unlocking Prosperity: 3 Key Sectors to Elevate the Standard of Living in the COMESA Region

Developing climate resilient regional value chains in agriculture, mining and tourism in the COMESA zone is a necessity to access inclusive development. However, peace and security remain key prerequisites to achieving this. This was explained by the heads of state present at the 23rd COMESA summit

Five heads of state from Madagascar, namely the DRC, one from Zambia, the head of Kenya and Ethiopia out of twenty one participated in the 23rd COMESA summit (Photo: Ntare house).

Accelerating regional integration by developing regional value chains in the fields of agriculture, mining and climate-resilient tourism is not an option, but a necessity, said Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi on October 31, 2024 during the 23rd COMESA Summit.

According to him, this draws attention to the sectors that generate growth which, when developed in an integrated and sustainable manner, can transform our economies and improve the quality of people’s living standards.

Ndayishimiye, like other heads of state who attended this summit, confirms that agriculture is the pillar of our economies. It forms the driving force behind our well-being through food. It is also the largest employment provider and income generator for citizens.

However, he worries that he is vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Similarly, the mineral wealth of the COMESA region is a significant asset. However, if its exploitation is not carried out in a responsible and sustainable manner, it says that our populations will not benefit from it.

He added that the tourism sector in Africa in general and in the COMESA region in particular remains underutilized despite its immeasurable potential.

It notes that its natural landscapes, cultural heritage and unique diversity remain assets to be valued. According to him, God has beautified it sufficiently and it is up to Africa to protect, promote and make this natural wealth profitable for the benefit of the populations.

The theme of the 23rdth COMESA summit rhymes with the vision of the Burundi government

For Burundi, he noted that the theme chosen for the summit is in line with the vision of the Burundian government, because its ambition is to have food self-sufficiency and sell the rest of its agricultural production in the natural region or a transformed state.

That is why the Burundi government is speeding up the process of modernizing the agricultural sector, building fertilizer manufacturing plants and establishing agri-food processing plants, he explained.

In order to win the bet, the Head of State asks to open regional markets to sell products and leave the doors wide open to make the sharing of information and technologies fluid.

The Secretary General of COMESA, Mrs Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, returned to a number of factors that must be appreciated in order to accelerate regional integration by developing regional value chains in the fields of climate resilient agriculture, mining and tourism.

These include, among other things, the promotion of irrigation techniques, access to energy, infrastructure development, ICT, and digitization of services at all levels.

And to add the promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises, the abolition of visas, the ratification of the ZLECAF agreement by all African countries, the promotion of the circular economy and gender integration.

Peace and safety above all

To these, he adds peace and security because these are factors that form the pillar of development.

Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia states that unity between African countries in general and COMESA countries in particular should above all characterize them in order to achieve the objective of accelerating regional integration.

In principle, when you have a problem, he argues, you go straight to your neighbours. Not for strangers.

Unity between African countries should take precedence over everything else

William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, agrees. He noted that all African countries should support the AfDB, AFLEXIMBANK and TDB to enable them to support intra-African trade, African capital and infrastructure, because these financial institutions are there for African countries.

Ruto laments the fact that time is often wasted looking for technical and financial support in other organizations outside Africa. According to him, we should develop our own financial institutions so that they in turn can support us in achieving our objectives.

Note that five heads of state from Madagascar, namely the DRC, one from Zambia, one from Kenya and Ethiopia out of twenty one participated in the 23rd COMESA summit.