I.A.M - Magazine - Page 40
LEADERS CORNER
Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe
Secretary General
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
COMESA's strategic focus remains on deepening economic integration through
trade facilitation, industrial development, and infrastructure connectivity. We've
made significant progress with the Digital Free Trade Area, which has reduced
cross-border trading costs by 30% while increasing transparency. The AfCFTA
provides us with a unique opportunity to consolidate these gains while addressing
the persistent challenges of non-tariff barriers and inadequate productive
capacity that continue to limit intra-regional trade volumes.
(In a speech at a COMESA Business Forum)
