The World Bank Country Director for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Ms Kundhavi Kadiresan, paid a courtesy call to the COMESA Secretary General, Sindiso Ngwenya at his office, on Tuesday, 22 November 2011.
Mr Ngwenya welcomed the Director to Zambia, and the COMESA Secretariat in particular; and he expressed the Secretariat’s anticipation and willingness to work with her to advance the good relationship that COMESA has with the World Bank, and other donor agencies.
“I do hope we will be able to put investment programmes together to support the Member States. For example, so far eleven countries have signed the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), under NEPAD, but your role is important as we support the programme for the advancement of the region,” Mr Ngwenya said.
He acknowledged the support of the World Bank towards ventures like the public procurement programme, which has also been supported by the African Development Bank; where at regional level a website has been set up so that governments can post tenders and Member States participate and compete fully.
“However, we have a lot of work to do in states like South Sudan where we were needed yesterday, and your assistance in resolving perennial governance issues elsewhere in the region is also welcome,” he said.
He also pointed out World Bank support to the region in auditing the business process on the border posts, the Time Release project, and the coordination of various infrastructure projects in the region.
“There are a number of donors in the region and it is important that these are brought together for the effective harmonization of any interests at stake, to avoid undermining any project,” he said.
Mr Ngwenya added that the production structures in the region are not complimentary, implying that the growth may not be sustainable as many countries are producing the same thing and exporting with little or no value addition.
“We need the World bank to assist us deal with the strategic issues that underlie economic development.”
Ms Kadiresan said she was keen to be the convener of discussions to focus on strategic issues; and that she was willing to compliment institutions in the region to achieve strategic goals.
“Countries in the region, especially the ones that are land locked, need strategic support in areas like agricultural and infrastructure development in order for them to achieve their development goals,” she said.
The World Bank Country Director added that she was looking forward to working with the COMESA Secretariat and that the World Bank will continue to follow up on strategies for development in the region, given its long-term commitment to economic development.
Mr Ngwenya emphasized the need for countries to work together on the political level in order to enforce implementation of the various projects.
“Going forward, financing regional integration from the national budgets and strengthening linkages among Member States are important so that each country harnesses its strong points. That is the only way that trade facilitation and beyond the border policies will make sense for the citizens and deliver value to their lives,” he said.
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