Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has urged member countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa to change their approach towards trade.
He said the bloc must embrace a systemic shift to exploit its untapped potential.
“It is time Comesa espoused value addition, especially of agricultural commodities, to enhance productivity. The shift will also offer higher returns, incentivise industrialisation, boost our competitiveness and create employment,” Ruto said.
He urged Africa to consider industrial manufacturing instead of primary production and exports of raw material.
“The potential for intra-Comesa trade is simply enormous and the demand for value-added products is bound to keep growing well into the future,” Ruto said.
He asked Comesa member states to take advantage of its 580 million market demand to enhance trade.
“Value-addition offers higher returns, incentivizes industrialization, enhances productivity, deepens technological advancement, increases high-quality jobs, bolsters wealth creation, and promotes competitiveness,” Ruto said.
The Head of State noted that Africa must utilise its rich, clean energy to advance its industrial development.
“We are championing for the radical repositioning of Africa as the clean, green continent of the future in order to exploit the opportunities arising from the transition to green industrialisation,” he said.
Ruto was addressing the 22nd Comesa Summit of Heads of State and Government in Lusaka, Zambia, on Thursday.
Leaders present were President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema, Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi , Burundi’s Évariste Ndayishimiye, Comesa Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe, among others.
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