Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa COMESA Secretary general Chileshe Kapwepwe said Seychelles realized a 15.8% increase in total exports during the year 2020 increasing from USD 985 million to USD 1,586 million.
She said this is a clear demonstration of the resilience of the economy against external shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic
She said there is room to expand Seychelles’ share of intra COMESA exports which still remain very minimal at 0.2% despite being an FTA member.
She noted that Seychelles is among four COMESA countries that will benefit from the US$ 5.7 million grant provided by the global environment facility through the capacity building initiative for transparency.
And Ambassador permanent representative Claude Morel said Seychelles commends the secretary general and the staff of the secretariat for exceptional and outstanding efforts made in the enhancement and promotion of regional integration within the jurisdiction.
He said in the recent years the growth of the regional trading blocks has been one of the main developments in the international relations.
He said despite the challenges COMESA has been resourceful and effective in it’s approach to mitigating the impacts of the crisis whilst formulating a pathway toward recovery by means of capacity building, digitalisation and targeted support.
He added that digitalisation and facilitation of information exchanges and availability to the business community wishing to conduct intra regional trade of international trade have proven to be essential tools against the COVID-19 pandemic.
