The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is discussing the status of regional integration among others in Lusaka, Zambia's capital, on Monday.

The topics being discussed at the five-day meeting of the Trade and Customs Committee of the Africa's biggest regional trade group include the increased participation of member states in the Free Trade Area (FTA), implementation of trade measures, non-tariff barriers and other related issues.

COMESA Secretary General Erastus Mwencha told the opening meeting that intra-regional trade and, in particular, promoting the social and economic development of the member countries through regional trade, is one of the core objectives of COMESA.

The Trade and Customs Committee is one of the key COMESA bodies that plays a monitoring and supervisory role to ensure the implementation of programs to achieve this objective, he said, adding that the COMESA secretariat will outline the programs and activities undertaken in the region in pursuant of this objective.

He told the meeting that Comoros recently became the 12th FTA member, and in a couple of months, Libya will join the ranks of FTA.

"It is necessary that member states move together on this journey, and we believe that the earlier we can achieve this, the sooner we will realize the full benefits of regional integration," he said.

"The committee has a number of important issues to consider which are not fully new and have been on the previous agenda of your discussion. These issues include the question of goods of economic importance, as well as sensitive products," Mwencha said.

He urged all the member countries to submit their lists of goods that they would like to retain in the list provided for under the rules.

The secretary said that their main challenge is the implementation of the roadmap for the Customs Union and urged all member countries to remain focused on this target and remain committed to implementing the various programs and activities intended to achieve the common objective.

Source: Xinhua