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Comesa on industrial development campaign

Local News
This was revealed last Friday during a virtual Comesa sensitisation workshop on the establishment of a common agro-industrial park between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

BY SILAS NKALA THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) says it is working on harnessing natural resources from its member countries to promote industrial development.

This was revealed last Friday during a virtual Comesa sensitisation workshop on the establishment of a common agro-industrial park between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Comesa representative from Zambia Esther Mwimba said the recent policy shift in the regional economic bloc was meant to invest in productive integration between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

“Over the years, we have seen the development of an instrument aimed at industrialising the region.  This strategy is premised on chapter 12 of the Comesa Treaty, which talks about industrial development. The goal is to develop a vibrant and sustainable industrial sector that will ensure equitable benefits to all Comesa member States,” Mwimba said.

She said key priorities of the agro-industrial park included energy, textile garments, leather products, mineral beneficiation, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and agro-chemicals including fertilizers, light engineering and the blue economy, which comprises resources from seas and oceans, the automobile industry and high-technology industries, among others.

Mwimba said small and medium enterprises and labour-intensive industries would also be promoted to reduce unemployment.

Zimbabwean consultant at the African Union, Rongai Chizema, said African countries should stop exporting raw materials to avoid price manipulation.

“Zambia grows its economy from copper, while Zimbabwe gets close to 30% of its revenue from the export of minerals.

There is no reason why Zimbabwe and Zambia cannot leverage on agriculture and natural resources to drive social transformation and industrialisation,” Chizema said.

Follow Silas on Twitter @silasnkala

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