REGIONAL INTEGRATION

CS Kuria in Zambia for COMESA summit

Among issues to be discussed is a proposal to create a Tripartite Free Trade Area

In Summary
  • The council brings together 21 African member states that came together with the aim of promoting regional integration.
  • It was formed in 1994 to replace the Preferential Trade Area, which had been in existence since 1981.
Trade Cabinet secretary Moses Kuria in Lusaka, Zambia.
REGIONAL INTEGRATION: Trade Cabinet secretary Moses Kuria in Lusaka, Zambia.
Image: Twitter

Trade Cabinet secretary Moses Kuria is in Zambia for the 43rd Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa council of ministers summit.

The council brings together 21 African member states that came together with the aim of promoting regional integration.

COMESA was formed in 1994 to replace the Preferential Trade Area, which had been in existence since 1981.

Key issues to be discussed during the meeting is the proposal to create a Tripartite Free Trade Area.

Kuria has signalled Kenya's commitment towards the ratification of the agreement.

"TFTA will unlock the potential of our economies through increased market access for goods and services, infrastructure and development funding by government partners," he said.

AdChoices
ADVERTISING
 

"I look forward to having meaningful and successful engagements."

TFTA is a free trade agreement between COMESA, SADC and EAC.

Some 27 countries signed the agreement on June 2015, in Egypt pending ratification by their respective national parliaments.

Kuria has been at the center of a storm over the importation of GMO maize.

The CS collided with some of his colleagues in the Cabinet and lawmakers after announcing that the government will allow duty-free importation of 10 million bags of GMO maize.

He said the imports will be done over the next six months, to address a biting food crisis as millions risk starvation.

WATCH: The latest videos from the Star