Negotiations between Africa and the EU should not only focus on
trade, but on development and increased access to resources and
technology, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA) secretary-general, Erastus Mwencha said on Thursday.
Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting with
Zimbabwean Vice President Joyce Mujuru, at her Mhunumutapa offices,
Mwencha said COMESA was in negotiations with the EU on how the
African continent through the trading bloc could improve trade
relations with Europe and improve the competitiveness of its
products on the world market.
"Our negations with the EU should focus on development because
for Africa, it is not only a question of trade," he said, adding
the major issue was increased access to land, roads, resources, and
capital, advanced technology and how to manage local resources such
as fisheries.
"As COMESA, we need capital to produce more quality products so
that we can compete with the world."
Mwencha's delegation included the president of the Eastern and
Southern African Trade and Development Bank, Michael Gondwe, who
said the bank was focused on managing the continent's financial
resources to help enhance trade between Africa and the EU.
He said discussion with the EU so far had been a good indicator
of improving trade relations COMESA is until Friday running
discussions in Harare with member states on how they can benefit
from the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
Since 2000, the EU and countries of the African, Caribbean and
the Pacific group (ACP) have been negotiating EPAs as part of the
Cotonou Agreement. EPAs aim to establish new World Trade
Organization compatible trading arrangements, removing
progressively, barriers of trade between EU and ACP countries.
The EPAs are expected to build on regional initiatives of ACP
states and promote sustainable development and contribute to
poverty eradication in the ACP countries.
The EU is pushing for the conclusion of EPAs negotiations by
December 2007.
(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2006)
