Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LUSAKA63
2009-01-29 14:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lusaka
Cable title:  

U.S. SUPPORTS REGIONAL INTEGRATION THROUGH COMESA

Tags:  ECIN EAID ETRD ECON XA ZI ZA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0059
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLS #0063/01 0291452
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291452Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6684
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
UNCLAS LUSAKA 000063 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR (BILL JACKSON)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN EAID ETRD ECON XA ZI ZA
SUBJECT: U.S. SUPPORTS REGIONAL INTEGRATION THROUGH COMESA

UNCLAS LUSAKA 000063

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR (BILL JACKSON)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN EAID ETRD ECON XA ZI ZA
SUBJECT: U.S. SUPPORTS REGIONAL INTEGRATION THROUGH COMESA


1. (SBU) Summary. On January 19, Ambassador presented his
credentials in order to be accredited as the U.S. Special
Representative to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa (COMESA). COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya
expressed appreciation for USG assistance to COMESA
integration and economic development. According to Ngwenya,
the Secretariat will host the next COMESA summit this May
most likely in Lusaka, in lieu of Zimbabwe. During the
summit, COMESA will launch its customs union and announce a
new COMESA Chair to succeed Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.
Ngwenya said that while COMESA would like to host the next
U.S.-COMESA TIFA Council meeting, it might be necessary to
hold it again in Washington on the margins of the spring
World Bank/IMF meetings. Ngwenya agreed on the need to
enhance coordination between USG agencies and COMESA, as well
as harmonize development assistance among donor countries.
End Summary.

USG Development Assistance


2. (SBU) During the presentation of his credentials, which
was extensively covered by local press, Ambassador
underscored continued U.S. commitment to regional economic
integration, trade expansion, and food security. He pointed
out that USG assistance to COMESA and its regional
integration efforts amounted to over USD 69 million since

1999. Secretary General Ngwenya acknowledged this support,
which he said had paved the way for financial assistance from
other donor countries. Through U.S. capacity building,
Ngwenya explained, COMESA had become the first regional
economic community in Sub-Saharan Africa to qualify for
direct budget support from the European Union. Ngwenya
conceded that, although the United States may not be COMESA's
largest donor, it has been its most strategic and effective
donor.


3. (SBU) Ngwenya also expressed appreciation for the African
Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA),which provides many COMESA
member states with duty free access to the U.S. market. In
particular, he thanked the USG for its decision in October
2008 to extend AGOA third-country fabric provision to
Mauritius, something that the Secretariat had been urgently

seeking. Ngwenya inquired into the possibility of a regional
Millennium Challenge Account compact for the COMESA
Secretariat in order to address transnational infrastructural
projects aimed at expanding trade. Ambassador explained the
legal constraints MCA faces regarding regional compacts.
Referring to a former U.S. Department of Treasury resident
advisor to Zambia on anti-money laundering, Ngwenya
identified the need to make progress on anti-money laundering
and counter-terrorist financing within the COMESA region and
invited USG assistance. Ambassador affirmed U.S. interest in
countering these activities.

Policy and Program Coordination


4. (SBU) Ngwenya noted broad-ranging USG support through
USAID/East Africa (Nairobi),U.S. Department of Agriculture,
and U.S. Trade and Development Agency as well as the
President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR). In
particular he pointed to agricultural, peace and security,
gender, customs, bond guarantee, and information and
communication technology programs in which USG assistance had
played a significant role. Given the number of USG agencies
engaged with COMESA, the Ambassador recommended an annual or
semi-annual stock-taking, perhaps before the convening of the
TIFA Council, to better coordinate USG direct and indirect
assistance. Ambassador also recommended an annual meeting
with other funding partners in order to develop a more
holistic approach and to more accurately evaluate the impact
of foreign assistance. Ngwenya enthusiastically endorsed
these proposals.

COMESA Summit


5. (SBU) Ngwenya said Zimbabwe could not host the
long-overdue COMESA Summit, which was originally scheduled
for May 2008 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. He said that even
Mugabe understands that Zimbabwe cannot host the next summit,
which most likely will be held in Lusaka in May 2009.
Ngwenya pointed out that a Lusaka Summit requires the
approval of the Zambian Government, which Ngwenya expects
imminently. According to Assistant Secretary General for
Programs, Stephen Karangizi, 12 COMESA members will
participate in the COMESA customs union, which will be
launched by the next COMESA chair at the May summit.
Karangizi conveyed his enthusiasm for the COMESA-SADC-East
African Community (EAC) tripartite cooperation agreement,
noting that the organizations' leaders had taken the
integration agenda beyond the expectations of the Secretariat.

TIFA Council


6. (SBU) Ngwenya told the Ambassador that, although it is
the Secretariat's turn -- and preference -- to host the next
TIFA Council meeting, this might be difficult in light of a
possible May summit in Lusaka. He thought it might be more
feasible to hold the TIFA council in Washington on the
margins of the World Bank/IMF spring meetings. Ngwenya
suggested that the Secretariat may not be able to commit to a
date for the TIFA meetings until it had reached agreement on
the location and timing of the summit. COMESA Agricultural
advisor Cris Muyunda told Emboff that the Secretariat might
be interested in adding biotechnology cooperation to the TIFA
agenda, given the Secretariat's intention to establish a
harmonized biotechnology regulatory framework and policy as
well as the Secretariat's plans to lobby COMESA heads of
state and ministers of trade and agriculture to re-evaluate
the potential benefits of lifting bans on biotechnology (to
be reported by septel).

BOOTH