The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is planning to establish its own shipping line to deal with the high cost of transportation in the region, according to a newsletter issued by the bloc's secretariat on Monday.

The plan was revealed by COMESA's assistant secretary general Sindiso Ngwenya during his visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo a week ago, the publication said.

The establishment of the shipping line is aimed at creating a maritime capacity in the region and to provide competitive and adequate shipping service to member states, Ngwenya said.

The venture would also reduce high cost of transport in order to promote regional trade, he added.

COMESA was already seeking proposals from potential consultants within the region to undertake a feasibility study to establish the shipping line, according to the newsletter.

The decision to establish its own shipping line to serve the region's seaborne trade comes when concerns have been raised over the high cost of transportation that has eaten into trade earning.

COMESA countries have constantly expressed concern over high cost of transport in the region, which constitutes a serious impediment to competitiveness of Africa's export products.

The COMESA suggests the sharing of vessels, elaborate transshipment and other on-carriage arrangements with foreign shipping lines.

COMESA is Africa's largest economic integration group. With its 20 member states boasting a total population of 385 million, it is expected to launch a customs union by the end of 2008.

Source: Xinhua