Trade, economic recovery, Covid-19 at the centre of talks between Comesa SG and Minister Hassan   |01 September 2021

Minister Hassan and his team (right) in discussion with the Comesa delegation

The visiting secretary general of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Chileshe Kapwepwe and her delegation yesterday held talks with Minister Naadir Hassan.

The Minister for Finance, Economic Planning and Trade welcomed the secretary general of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) at his office at Liberty House.

Their talks were centred on trade matters, economic recovery, the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic among other related issues important for both parties.

Seychelles became a member state of the Comesa in 2009.

Ms Kapwepwe said it is important for the Comesa to assist its member states to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Comesa wants to support economic development of its member states, using trade as an anchor,” she said.

She explained that the Comesa is working on harmonising and modernising trade regulations for its member states.

“My visit is a chance for Seychelles and the Comesa to coordinate and harmonise common areas of interests,” she added.

Minister Hassan briefed Ms Kapwepwe on the economic situation of Seychelles in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The economy is now in recovery mode, thanks to the vaccination programme and the re-opening of the country,” he highlighted.

He said the pandemic has taught all countries the same lesson.

“We can no longer rely on only one economic sector and that is why we need to diversify in order to safeguard our economy from any kind of shocks.”

Minister Hassan expressed his support for the Comesa’s main goals of assisting small and medium enterprises, harmonising trade regulations, encouraging development in the value added sector and creating value chain for businesses because, he said, “they are aligned with what the government is doing”.  

In the last few years, trade between Seychelles and the regional body has increased considerably.

In 2018, total export to the Comesa member countries equated to US $13 million, however export fell to US $9 million in 2020.

As for importation, the total value has continued to increase, from US $36 million in 2018 to US $50 million in 2020.

Minister Hassan was accompanied during the talks by Seychelles’ chief negotiator for trade agreements, Charles Morin, and the director general for economic planning, Lenny Palit.

Press release from the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Trade