Secretary for Trade, Christina Zakeyo, has urged the media to highlight trade progress being registered through the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) initiatives like the One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs). Zakeyo made the remarks at a recent media engagement workshop held at the Mchinji Border.
The workshop was aimed at promoting project visibility for the COMESA EDF 11 Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP). Speaking to an audience of government officials, border agency representatives, and the media, Zakeyo emphasised the crucial role the media plays in disseminating knowledge on trade facilitation.
“It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this important workshop, where we expect to enhance your understanding of this project,” Zakeyo said, acknowledging the unwavering support from the COMESA Secretariat.
” The TFP aims to streamline trade by addressing non-tariff barriers, improving digital trade areas, and modernising border management systems. This programme is designed to reduce costs and delays at our borders, facilitating smoother trade flows,” she added.
Zakeyo also highlighted the January 2021 sub-delegation agreement worth €3.5 million between Malawi’s Ministry of Trade and the COMESA Secretariat. The agreement focused on upgrading the Mchinji border post and enhancing cross-border trade between Malawi and Zambia.
“Through this initiative, we have improved infrastructure, simplified procedures, and installed modern equipment to facilitate the electronic exchange of information between agencies,” said Zakeyo.
In her remarks, Station Manager for Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) at Mchinji One-Stop Border Post (OSBP), Tapiwa Mzunga, said the infrastructure improvements at the border have brought tangible trade benefits including the recently installed equipment.
“We have seen remarkable improvements in efficiency, particularly with the installation of the smart gates. These gates help us monitor how long goods stay at the OSBP, ensuring faster processing,” Mzunga explained.
Mzunga also elaborated on the implementation of an electronic Certificate of Origin, which is expected to replace the current manual system.
“At the moment, we are using the manual Certificate of Origin, but we are looking forward to the full implementation of the electronic version. This will not only simplify access but also reduce issues such as forgery and delays,” said Mzunga adding the new system is anticipated to boost transparency and efficiency in trade processes.
In closing, Zakeyo reiterated the government’s commitment to the Trade Facilitation Agenda and urged the media to play an active role in promoting awareness.
“We are making significant progress, and I assure you that the ministry is fully committed to ensuring Malawi’s growth in regional trade. Let us collaborate for a more integrated and prosperous future,” she concluded.
The COMESA has various initiatives aimed at regional integration, including the Trade Facilitation Project, which seeks to boost economic growth by eliminating non-tariff barriers and enhancing trade agreements. The Monetary Harmonisation Programme aims to create a common monetary area, ultimately leading to a monetary union.
Other initiatives include the Small Scale Cross-Border Trade Initiative, and efforts to establish a customs union with unified trade policies. COMESA also cooperates in key areas such as transport, industry, agriculture, finance, and social development.
