COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND
SOUTHERN AFRICA
MARCHE COMMUN DE
L’AFRIQUE DE L’EST ET
AUSTRALE
Tel : (260 1) 229726/29
Telex : ZA 40127
Fax : (260 1) 227318
E-mail : secgen@comesa.int
Web : http://www.comesa.int
MERCADO COMUM PARA
AFRICA ORIENTAL E
AUSTRALE
COMESA Centre
Cairo Road
P O Box 30051
LUSAKA 10101
Zambia
PRESS RELEASE/COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE
The Government of the Republic of Germany has reaffirmed its commitment and support to the ideals of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
The Germany government has since appointed its New Ambassador to Zambia Dr. Irene Hedwig Hinrichsen to be that country’s Permanent Representative to COMESA replacing Dr. Erick Kristof who has returned to Germany.
Ambassador Hinrichsen paid a courtesy call on the COMESA Secretary General Mr. Erastus Mwencha on Thursday September 8th 2005 and presented her letter of credence. Mr. Mwencha has commended Germany for its continued support to COMESA programmes and the regional integration agenda.
He said Germany through the European Union has greatly assisted COMESA implement various programmes which are meant to benefit the people and the region. Germany is the largest contributor to the European Union budget and the EU is also the largest contributor to the COMESA Secretariat budget.
Recently, a Euros 38 million Contribution Agreement from the European Union was signed between the COMESA Secretariat and the East African Community (EAC) for the implementation of the Regional Integration Support programme (RISP). The two regional organizations will have to provide the Euros 8 million of the total amount from the EU.
RISP provides the regional organisations with the necessary financial and human resources to assist their member states in implementing their economic integration agenda and more specifically COMESA’s Free Trade Area and Customs Union as well as the implementation of the Customs Union Protocol of the East African Community.
RISP furthermore provides support in multilateral trade negotiations such as the WTO negotiations and the preparations for the Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Union.
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