Today, Thursday, the Africa 2024 CIF Investment Forum kicks off in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, aiming to explore ways to promote investments and intra-trade among member states of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The event, funded by the European Union and with participation from the Egyptian Investment Authority and Free Zones, gathers representatives from 21 COMESA countries. Over 350 attendees include ministers, decision-makers, private sector representatives, investment promotion agencies, and international organizations such as the European Union Commission and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Opening the forum is Tunisia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Ferial Louergli. Also participating are Assistant Secretary-General for Programs at COMESA, Ambassador Mohamed Qaddah, Dr. Heba Salama, CEO of COMESA Regional Investment Agency, Marco Stella, Head of Economic Affairs at the EU Delegation in Tunisia, and Samir Majoul, President of the Tunisian Union of Industry, Commerce, and Handicrafts.
The forum comprises four sessions, focusing on launching potentials in cross-border trade and investments within COMESA. It discusses COMESA’s role in supporting regional integration, highlighting the competitive advantages of the bloc as an attractive market for investments and business activities.
Additionally, sessions emphasize raising awareness about the roles of COMESA institutions and services in increasing private sector contributions to economic development within the region.
Further sessions cover investment prospects in COMESA countries, reviewing key partnerships and success stories in investments and intra-trade within the bloc. They also outline available investment opportunities for the private sector, emphasizing the roles of investor associations and entrepreneurs in encouraging more intra-regional investments and the facilitating role of the COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA).
The third session focuses on enhancing bilateral trade relations among COMESA member states, discussing programs supporting trade liberalization, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), customs facilitation, and non-tariff barrier removal among member countries. It highlights important intra-regional trade statistics within COMESA countries.
The fourth and final session explores the role of African banks in supporting financing and facilitating trade and investment flows among COMESA countries. It addresses challenges facing investors and business leaders in trade and investment and the facilities provided by COMESA institutions to facilitate payments and ensure fair competition within member states.
