Egypt backs Zim’s Comesa role

Source: Egypt backs Zim’s Comesa role – herald

Mukudzei Chingwere-Senior Reporter

EGYPT has expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with Zimbabwe in the period leading up to the country’s assumption of the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa later this year.

Egypt’s position was conveyed by Ambassador Maha Kamel, after paying a courtesy call on Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga in Harare yesterday.

Ambassador Kamel said Egypt looked forward to working closely with Zimbabwe to advance shared priorities within the regional economic bloc, as Zimbabwe prepares to lead COMESA at a key moment for trade, investment and regional integration.

In October, Zimbabwe is scheduled to take over the COMESA chair, a role that places the country at the centre of steering the bloc’s agenda, convening member states and driving implementation of agreed regional programmes.

The chair is expected to help set policy direction, strengthen coordination among member countries and champion reforms aimed at deepening economic integration across Eastern and Southern Africa.

The statement comes against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to expand intra-regional trade, improve the movement of goods and people, and create conditions that attract investment and support sustainable development.

COMESA’s leadership is also important for mobilising regional momentum around issues such as industrialisation, infrastructure development, trade facilitation and economic resilience.

“It was a very important and informative meeting,” said Ambassador Kamel after a meeting with VP Chiwenga.

“We had a chance to discuss the bilateral relations between Egypt and Zimbabwe, the historical ties that have always been there between the two nations and we also discussed areas of potential cooperation.

“COMESA is very important because it paves the way for the private sector to operate and to further their trade ties. Zimbabwe will be hosting the summit and will be taking over the presidency for the next year.

“We look forward to working with the Zimbabwean Government in this important mission and we are sure it is going to be successful,” said Ambassador Kamel.

Already, Zimbabwe and Egypt maintain strong bilateral relations spanning trade, the economy and political cooperation, with ties often traced to Egypt’s historic solidarity with Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.

That enduring relationship, observers say, provides a foundation for deeper collaboration at the regional trade bloc level – particularly as member states seek practical pathways to enhance commerce and strengthen political unity in the region.

The Egyptian diplomat said the meeting between her country and Zimbabwe’s Vice President reaffirmed the two countries’ excellent relations, adding that the discussion focused on ways to deepen economic exchanges for the benefit of their respective peoples.

“The economic sector, health sector, political area as well so it was a very important meeting, we discussed several bilateral projects currently underway,” said Ambassador Kamel.

“Egypt will host the Africa Health Expo in July and we have invited several pharmaceutical companies in Zimbabwe to come and participate.

“This will be an important opportunity to further the cooperation between the two countries, not only in the pharmaceutical sector, but also in the production of medical devices, hospital furniture, be it human or veterinary vaccines, so this was one of the important highlights of the meeting as well.”