Over 60 small-scale cross border traders, border management and other government officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia at the Kipushi border post participated in a five-day capacity building forum to establish formalised networks at the entry point.
The forum, held on May 13 – 17 2024, is part of COMESA’s commitment towards enhancing peace and cross border trade in the Great Lakes region and beyond. It was organised by the COMESA Secretariat through the Trading for Peace Project being implemented by the Governance Peace and Security (GPS) Unit.
Following a recent policy directive by COMESA Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the GPS Unit convened a joint DRC-Zambia workshop at the Kipushi border to establish a formalised structure of a joint border committee to facilitate cross-border engagement and cooperation.
Key discussions centered on the understanding and implementation of the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime programme, the Charter on the Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Small-Scale Cross-Border Traders, improved ways of conducting conflict prevention, analysis and resolution. The delegates also discussed the challenges faced by small-scale cross -border traders when conducting cross-border trade at Kipushi.
Speaking on behalf of COMESA Secretariat, Conflict Early Warning Expert in the GPS Unit Mr Raymond Kitevu reiterated the organisation’s commitment and support to peace building efforts in the region as it was an assured way of deepening trade and development in the region.
He expressed gratitude to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs for their guidance and the development partners such as the World bank for the continued support to the peace building efforts in the region.
“As COMESA, we are here to support peace building efforts and initiatives because without peace there cannot be any trade to talk about. Our thanks go to the cooperating partners who also believe in this resolve,” Mr Kitevu said.
Following the training, a Joint Border Committee was established and a plan for the way forward developed. This includes the need for the Secretariat to continue conducting capacity building initiatives and efforts be expedited to operationalise the Committee.
The delegates also noted that the Governments of DRC and Zambia have finalised bilateral talks on implementing the STR and the Agreement is awaiting signing by Ministers responsible for Trade from the two countries.
Launched in 2007, the Trading for Peace Project is being implemented in the Great Lakes region covering the DRC and its eastern neighbours Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia. It is currently being funded by the EU-APSA programme.