President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, emphasized the urgent need for increased intra-African trade, pointing out that the continent currently trades the least with itself—a situation he deems unacceptable and in need of change.He underscored the importance of regional integration and urged African nations to engage in greater investment and collaboration to foster economic growth and interconnected prosperity.President Hichilema proposed the corridor approach as a strategic means of addressing regional infrastructure gaps, highlighting its potential to connect multiple countries through vital projects.He further stressed the necessity of combating non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and called on leaders to strengthen their political will to eliminate these obstacles, which significantly hinder regional integration efforts.As the outgoing COMESA Chairperson, Hichilema also underscored the role of trade in addressing insecurity, asserting that ensuring food security is a collective responsibility across the region.He advocated for public-private partnerships as essential instruments for infrastructure development, stating, “The Public-Private Partnership model is a crucial tool, proven in developed nations, for fostering economic growth without straining government resources.”Hichilema challenged his fellow leaders to critically evaluate and embrace investment opportunities within the region to achieve sustained economic development.Today, President Hichilema formally handed over the COMESA Chairmanship to Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, with Kenya’s President William Ruto serving as Vice Chairperson. Hichilema congratulated his Burundian counterpart, expressing confidence in his leadership to advance COMESA’s mission.The 2024 COMESA Summit, hosted in Bujumbura, Burundi, focused on the theme: “Accelerating Regional Integration through Development of Regional Value Chains in Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Mining, and Tourism.” Hichilema emphasized that this theme addresses critical regional challenges and noted the significant potential of agriculture, mining, and tourism sectors for building climate-resilient economies in the region.In his acceptance speech as the incoming Chair of COMESA, President Ndayishimiye paid tribute to President Hichilema for his exemplary leadership in fostering peace across the COMESA region.President Ndayishimiye also commended the Democratic Republic of Congo for its dedicated efforts to restore peace within its borders.He further urged warring nations in the region to resolve conflicts, highlighting the importance of peace for enhancing regional economic growth.
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