COMESA Business Council (CBC) and the Federation of German Industries (BDI) forge partnership to enhance COMESA Private Sector’s Participation in the imolementation of the AfCFTA
Lusaka, Zambia – “12th February 2022 marks a key milestone in our Germany-Africa business collaborations. We’re happy that we have hit the ground running in 2022, and with this partnership, we are looking forward to strengthening our business development activities, increasing our membership, and enhancing the private sector’s engagement in pushing forward the implementation of the AfCFTA. Furthermore, we look forward to strengthening the ties between the COMESA private sector and German industries,” said Ms. Sandra Uwera, CEO of the COMESA Business Council, during the BDI-CBC Project Implementation Agreement signing ceremony which took place on Wednesday, 9th February, 2022.
The ceremony marked the beginning of the journey towards solidifying the relationship for the period of three years, 2022 to 2024. Expounding on the significance of the partnership, Matthias Wachter, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the Federation of German Industries (BDI) said, “the AfCFTA is a great opportunity for Africa as a whole. We are honoured to partner with CBC and look forward to working very closely over the next three years, towards strengthening the institution’s capacity to contribute to the enhancement of intraregional trade, within the regional integration agenda.”
With the signing of the partnership agreement, the parties are expected to implement programs to strengthen CBC’s business development services, enhance communications and strengthen membership engagement towards business advocacy. The overall long-term objective is to facilitate the inclusive participation of COMESA’s Private Sector in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
This partnership further recognizes the far-reaching benefits to be derived from increased cooperation and interaction between German industry and the COMESA private sector, in the areas of knowledge exchange and business linkages opportunities.
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About COMESA Business Council (CBC)
COMESA Business Council is a business member organization bringing together a diverse group of businesses and associations in the region from 34 sectors in 21 countries of COMESA. CBC is the recognized regional apex body of the private sector in the region. CBC as the key advocacy driver for business, provides a link between the private sector and organs of the Common market. We seek to improve the competitiveness and deepen the participation of the private sector in regional and global trade, through advocacy, business facilitation and enterprise development. This includes prioritizing and taking specific advocacy strategies to address key business impediments and measures that affect our industries and have a direct bearing on the participation of our businesses in trading in the COMESA region.
About the Federation of German Industries (BDI)
The Federation of German Industries is the umbrella organization of German Industry and industry related services. It speaks on behalf of 36 sectors associations and represents the interest of German Industries in and outside Germany.
BDI’s Mission as an interest group, is to address the positions of a wide range of industrial sectors and industry-related service providers vis-à-vis NGOs, civil society and science. In this way, BDI supports companies in global competition. BDI highlights the impact of economic policy on society, provide information and economic policy advice on all industry-relevant issues, and assist in opening up international markets by providing political support. BDI has an extensive network in Germany and Europe, in all important markets and in international organizations.
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For inquiries, contact:
Marianne Nzioki
Email: mnzioki@comesabusinesscouncil.org Website: www.comesabusinesscouncil.org Twitter: @COMESABusiness
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