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Kampala (Agenzia Fides) – Harmonizing and coordinating the trade laws and customs regulations, and promoting progress in public transportation infrastructures...these are some of the goals for the Summit taking place in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, which is attended by 26 national delegations from three political-economic associations of Africa: COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa); EAC (Eastern African Community); SADC (Southern African Development Community).
Until now, the three economic areas had remained independent. The meeting in Kampala is an attempt to help coordinate their efforts in order to create one free-market area that would reach from Egypt to South Africa.
The summit will be attended by South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, President of SADC, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, representing COMESA, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, representing EAC. Among the other Heads of State scheduled to attend are Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Omar el Bashir of Sudan.
The triple crisis (finance, energy, and food), in addition to the environment, is on the agenda for the summit. Uhuru Kenyatta, Vice-Prime Minister and Commerce Minister in Kenya affirmed that “it is important that we recognize this global financial crisis; the rise in the cost of fuel and food could lead to a weakening in our economies and the deterioration of world economic prospects.” In order to respond to this situation, which holds drastic consequences for entire populations, the African leaders hope to increase regional collaboration, forming one network out of the three different economic areas in southern and eastern Africa. The second step will involve the participation of the other regional groups, from western and northern Africa, in order to create one single common African market.
The Africans are keeping in mind the experience of the European Union, which has not only led to the creation of a market of over 300 million people, leading to an economic growth in poorer areas of Europe, but has also created a strong bond of peace among nations that just decades ago fought each other in fierce wars.
In order to reach such a situation, several obstacles will have to be overcome, including those of a physical nature. The Summit is looking for a way to improve infrastructures needed for economic growth, which would allow for greater economic exchange within Africa, e.g. electrical lines, highways, railroads, and telecommunication.
COMESA is formed by: Burundi, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauricio, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The EAC is formed by: Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. The SADC is made up of: Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauricio, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. As is evident, some of the countries form a part of more than one regional association. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 22/10/2008)
