It is clearly visible that Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has been attaching due importance to regional energy development infrastructure with a view to ensuring reliable and reasonably priced provision of energy at the earliest possible time.
As long as the participation of all stakeholders plays a paramount role in taking the country and the continent of Africa to the next level of accomplishment, relevant interested parties should stand in alliance with the purpose of charting the course for the future and leading the world into the future.
It appears clear that COMESA has been assisting the progress of economic integration and development in Africa in various undertakings.
Although Africa is inundated with excessive energy in various parts of the continent, it has been time after time stumbling upon energy crunch in view of the fact that it has been failing to meet its energy demand. For the sake of truth, unless all pertinent bodies stand shoulder to shoulder with a view to accomplishing the desired goal, taking the region to the expected level will be easier said than done.
It should be remembered that Ethiopia and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in the recent past signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the horticulture sector. The signing ceremony which was held in the presence of key stakeholders marks a significant step towards collaboration in the production of avocados, onions, vegetables, and fruits.
The MoU signing was part of a forum organized by COMESA in partnership with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association. The forum aimed to recommend and approve a roadmap to address value chain challenges in Ethiopia’s horticulture products, particularly avocados, red onions, and potatoes.
Professor Ali Mohamed, Adviser to the State Minister of Agriculture, highlighted Ethiopia’s potential in horticulture production and expressed gratitude for COMESA’s commitment to collaborate in improving the sector’s value chain.
Abdela Negash, CEO of Horticulture Development, emphasized that the MoU will enable Ethiopia to work closely with COMESA, strengthening relationships among sector stakeholders. The collaboration is expected to enhance production and marketing, fostering regional cooperation, boosting foreign market linkages, and creating new opportunities for farmers and exporters.
He further noted that the agreement aims to overcome obstacles in the value chain of horticulture products, from nursery to export, by adding the necessary value to increase foreign currency earnings. In the face of important step forward and tremendous progress, the rhythm of electrification is poles apart from being sufficient to meet the ever increasing demand of the populations.
Devoid of noteworthy involvement, the Horn of Africa’s region energy provision will not progress at the same rate with the rising demand driven by development, economic development, natural population growth and other related aspects.
With a view to taking the continent to the next level of growth, all actors concerned should join hands with the objective of taking the region to new frontiers down the road.
The restricted power supply enormously impacts economic and industrial development in the Horn of Africa region and beyond. If the situation keeps going in such a manner, accomplishing the intended target will be easier said than done. It will not be as easy as falling off a log.
Taking the previously mentioned grounds into account, stakeholders without batting an eye for a fraction of a second should join hands more than ever before to make Ethiopia an energy hub of the country and enable the region to attract investors.
Ethiopia, a vital member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), has hesitated to join the COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA) since its inception in 1994. This caution stemmed from concerns about potential dominance by more economically advanced member states such as Egypt and Zimbabwe, particularly when Ethiopia was recovering from civil conflict and had limited industrial capacity.
However, Ethiopia’s economic landscape has undergone significant transformation in recent years, marked by remarkable progress in industrial development, liberalization of the financial sector, and the implementation of regional economic integration policies, according to a source.
This analysis contends that the present juncture presents an ideal opportunity for Ethiopia to become a part of the COMESA FTA, particularly given its alignment with broader regional and continental trade initiatives, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD) Minimum Integration Plan, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Ethiopia’s recent economic reforms and burgeoning industrial prowess underscore the benefits and necessity of participating in the FTA.
It went on to say, Ethiopia’s textile and apparel sector has seen remarkable growth, with an average annual export increase of over 50% in the last decade, positioning it as one of the country’s leading sectors (EIC, 2020). This growth has been driven by establishing industrial parks such as the Hawassa Industrial Park, attracting substantial foreign direct investment and contributing to thousands of jobs. Ethiopia’s textile industry is now well-placed to compete regionally and globally, benefiting from labor and manufacturing efficiency cost advantages.
COMESA, a regional economic organization in Africa urged African nations to implement targeted policies to improve access to information and communications technology (ICT) services on the continent, according to domestic media.
COMESA Director for Infrastructure and Logistics Bernard Dzawanda made this remark at the start of a meeting on enhancement of governance and enabling environment in ICT program in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, according to Xinhua.
While acknowledging that access to and use of affordable ICT services was important to ensure economic development, Dzawanda said only 37% of Africa’s population uses the internet compared to the global average of 67%. Furthermore, only 25% were connected to the internet compared to the global average of 57%.
“The issue of affordability is very critical in achieving universal and inclusive access to ICT services. Even where service is available, internet use is constrained by low affordability of both the data a digital device,” he said.
He reiterated the importance of ICT in driving development and regional integration within the COMESA bloc, noting that the organization has a strategic plan to foster digital transformation through appropriate policies and legislation.
Dzawanda emphasized the potential of ICT in addressing various challenges, including climate vulnerability, gender inequality, and health emergencies.
COMESA’s initiatives in enhancing governance and creating an enabling environment for ICT have led to significant progress, including the completion of studies related to roaming, interconnection, and optic fiber policies.
Ethiopia will be one of the beneficiaries of the project on the grounds that it will open prospects to become involved inpower export and able to put on sale power to the Southern part of Africa.
It is certain that in the present circumstances, COMESA runs a broad range of tangible regional programs with the purpose of fostering coordinated efforts towards affluence and smoothing the path of African integration.
In addition to COMESA and other regional organizations, nations should play fundamental role for the effectuation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
It is learnt that the time has come for Ethiopia to integrate fully into the COMESA Free Trade Area. The country’s economic transformation, the liberalization of its financial sector, and its alignment with broader regional and continental trade initiatives make participation in the FTA advantageous and necessary.
By joining the COMESA FTA, Ethiopia would reduce export costs, gain access to a vast regional market, foster economic growth and diversification, and contribute to achieving continental trade and development goals under AfCFTA, IGAD, and Agenda 2063.
The potential benefits for Ethiopia’s industries, private sector, and broader economy far outweigh the challenges, making it imperative for the country to embrace regional economic integration through the COMESA FTA.
Since its inception, Ethiopia has been pulling out all the stops with the purpose of standing by the side of local and foreign business in oiling the wheels of joining export market through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the global trading. It is certain that the government is committed to paving the way for the private sectors export supply capabilities.
In actual fact, the current improvement is geared towards bolstering private sector engagement, which is vital forgetting higher the international market.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2024
