The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) wants member states to introduce special programmes in public universities that could support the regional integration agenda by producing skilled trade facilitators, among others.
This is coming at a time most of the block’s member-States, including Malawi, are still struggling to competently trade within the region and are risking failure to tap on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).
Thus Comesa secretary general Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe stressed in the 11th Comesa Annual Research the need for public universities in the region to introduce a master’s degree programme in regional integration to fix some of the existing gaps on trade facilitation and negotiation.
Kapwepwe said: “The programme is designed for government officials working in divisions or units dealing with trade, integration and cooperation issues; students intending to work as trade officers, trade policy analysts, advisers, researchers, or trade attaches; private sector trade practitioners, among others.
“The main objectives of the programme are to provide sound conceptual, policy and practical training in regional integration; provide practical skills to learners and to update their knowledge with a view to supporting trade negotiations and the entire process of integration in the Comesa region.”
By August 2024, eight universities had signed an agreement with Comesa on the programme including Kenyatta University, University of Mauritius, University of Malawi, Makerere University, Open University of Mauritius, University of Zambia, and University of Zimbabwe.
In an interview, Comesa Business Council president James Chimwaza said the initiative is critical as regional integration requires proper coordination of both public and private sectors within the region.
Chimwaza said: “For integration to succeed, the concerned parties should be speaking the same language, with researchers, trade officers and trade advisers that are equipped with relevant skills on trade negotiations, among others.”
University of Malawi senior lecturer in macro-economics Bertha Bangara-Chikadza said the master’s degree programme in regional integration is relevant to Malawi as it will equip government officials, policy makers and private sector trade professionals with policy and practical skills in economics, trade policy and law, as well as international finance.
“This capacity will be instrumental in improving trade negotiations, coordination and efficient implementation of regional agreements. Graduates from this programme will also be key in streamlining trade policies, addressing barriers to trade, and promoting integrated markets.
“This will help in improving trade standards and unlocking the full potential of regional trade within Comesa, benefiting all member-States in the long run,” Chikadza said.
According to Comesa, Kenyatta University and the University of Mauritius started offering the programme in 2020 in English and the two universities have enrolled 76 students for the Master’s programme. To date, 20 students have graduated from the two universities.
