YOUR EXCELLENCY, MR. ABDEL FATTAH EL-SISI, PRESIDENT OF THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT AND OUTGOING CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMESA AUTHORITY;

• YOUR EXCELLENCIES, HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT FROM THE COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA (COMESA);

• DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES;

• LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

• AS WE ACCEPT TO SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE COMESA AUTHORITY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE OUTGOING CHAIRMAN, HIS BUREAU AND THE MEMBER STATES FOR ENTRUSTING US, THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA WITH THIS IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY.

• WE COMMEND YOUR EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT EL-SISI, FOR YOUR STEADFAST LEADERSHIP WHICH HAS GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS ACHIEVING OUR REGIONAL INTEGRATION AGENDA. WE ARE HONOURED TO TAKE UP THE MANTLE AND BUILD ON FROM WHERE YOU HAVE LEFT.

• WE CONGRATULATE THE NEW BUREAU, INCLUDING HIS EXCELLENCY MR. ÉVARISTE NDAYISHIMIYE, THE VICE CHAIRPERSON AND PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI.

• ON BEHALF OF THE BUREAU, WE ASSURE MEMBER STATES OF OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCELERATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMESA REGIONAL INTEGRATION PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES.

YOUR EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,

• ZAMBIA IS FULLY COMMITTED TO SUPPORT ALL EFFORTS AIMED AT ACCELERATING THE ATTAINMENT OF THE COMESA VISION OF IMPROVING THE WELFARE AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR PEOPLE AS ENSHRINED IN OUR TREATY.

• DURING OUR TENURE AS CHAIR, WE WILL PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, VALUE ADDITION, COMPETITIVENESS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF VALUE CHAINS.

• WE WILL INTENSIFY OUR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ISSUES IMPEDING INVESTMENT IN THE REGION IN ORDER TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT.

• WE WILL ENSURE THAT OUR REGIONAL PROJECTS PROMOTE GREEN INVESTMENT AS A WAY OF CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS ATTAINING THE GLOBAL WARMING TARGET OF NOT EXCEEDING 1.5 DEGREES CELSIUS, WHILE CREATING GREEN JOBS.

• WHILE WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE SUPPORT FROM COOPERATING PARTNERS, AND AS WE CONTINUE TO MARKET OUR REGION AS RIPE AND READY FOR INVESTMENT, WE MUST MOBILISE INTERNAL RESOURCES THAT WILL FINANCE GREEN INVESTMENT.

YOUR EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.

• WE WILL PRIORITISE THE TOURISM SECTOR TO ACCELERATE ITS FULL RECOVERY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WE MUST PROVIDE THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO THIS IMPORTANT SECTOR.

YOUR EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,

• BUILDING CONSENSUS AMONG MEMBER STATES ON OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATIVE, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL MATTERS WILL BE OUR PRIORITY.

• TOP ON OUR AGENDA WILL ALSO BE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW COMESA HEADQUARTERS ON THE LAND THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA.

• WE ARE CONFIDENT OF COLLECTIVE SUPPORT FROM MEMBERSHIP TO ENSURE THAT, AS MEMBER STATES, WE AVAIL OURSELVES OF A SUITABLE PREMISES FOR OUR SECRETARIAT TO EFFECTIVELY DELIVER ON THE MANDATE OF OUR INSTITUTION.

• WITH FOCUS AND RESOLVE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TURN OUR ECONOMIES FROM BEING EXPORTERS OF RAW MATERIALS TO PRODUCERS OF VALUE-ADDED GOODS THAT SHOULD PENETRATE THE REGIONAL AND GLOBAL MARKET.

YOUR EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,

• EFFECTIVE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION AMONGST OUR MEMBER STATES, THE AFRICAN UNION, AND OTHER PARTNERS WILL BE CARDINAL.

• WE NEED TO WORK TIRELESSLY OVER THE NEXT ONE YEAR AND TAP INTO THE EXPANDED BENEFITS OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA.

• WE, THEREFORE, NEED TO FRONTLOAD INITIATIVES DIRECTED AT PROPELLING THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL SECTORS IN OUR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO UNLOCK MARKET RIGIDITIES AND ENSURE A SMOOTH FLOW OF GOODS AND SERVICES WITHIN AND ACROSS REGIONS.

• LET US CHANGE THE NARRATIVE OF OUR INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE BY VIEWING OURSELVES AS COMPLEMENTARY TO EACH OTHER RATHER THAN COMPETITORS.

• WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH ALL MEMBER STATES AS WELL AS THE BUREAU AND THE SECRETARIAT TOWARDS THE ATTAINMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION FOR A THRIVING COMESA.

 I THANK YOU ALL.

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ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY HE PRESIDENT HICHILEMA