Top > Regional Affairs > Africa > TICAD > Illustrative List Of Ongoing and Pipeline Projects/Programs For African Development As a Reference Document for TICAD II > II. Economic Development : Promoting Private Sector (2.1 Private Sector Development) > Private Sector Capacity Building in the COMESA Region

Private Sector Capacity Building in the COMESA Region

I.Basic data

Sector(s): Capacity Building
Title: Private Sector Capacity Building in the COMESA region
Donor country / organization: East Asian countries
Other donors / organizations involved: Business community in East Asian countries
Beneficiary countries / regions: COMESA region including 21 Africa countries of Eastern and Southern Africa
Implementing agencies in beneficiary countries / regions: COMESA Secretariat
Duration: two years
Starting Date: January 1999
Project / Program budget: US$1,5 million
Finance / Type of cooperation: Grant and technical cooperation

II.Project / program description

  1. Objectives
    To assist the private sector to effectively take advantage of the opportunities open to it in the newly liberalized environment.
  1. Activities / contents
    1. Develop further the COMESA Website which is the main source of trade and investment information for the private sector and link it up with the Eastern and Southern Africa Business Organization (ESABO) and the Chambers of Commerce in the member states.
    2. Training of entrepreneurs and government officials on the functions and disciplines of the WTO, the nature and scope of the current Uruguay Round Agreement and the salient features of the major multilateral Agreements.
    3. Exchange of experience with the business community in East Asian countries.
  2. Expected outcomes / impacts
    To improve and strengthen the regional integration of the private sector through:
    (a) an increased level of trade and investment in the region through educating the business community in opportunities opened by the WTO regimes.
    (b) the strengthening of ESABO and the national Chambers of Commerce to provide better services, particularly up to date information, to their members.
    (c) an improved networking between the regional business community and that of the East Asian countries.
  3. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
    To achieve such goals as poverty alleviation, South-South Cooperation and Social development.

III.Contact point:

General Secretariat of the Organization of African Unity/African Economic Community(OAU/AEC); copy to COMESA Secretariat

(End)
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