Malawian to head Comesa agency
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has appointed George Magai, a Malawian agricultural economist, as director for trade and markets for the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (Actesa).
In a press release issued on June 20 and signed by Comesa secretary general Sindiso Ngwenya says the appointment was effective June 1, 2013.
“[Magai] has experience in developing models and tools to improve efficiency throughout the agricultural marketing chain that is from producers to end-markets through agro-dealer development and related networks. His work has seen him exploring farmer market linkages working to offer opportunities for improving smallholders’ marketing.
He has also been well involved in championing women empowerment initiatives in the Southern African Region and has a proven track record of building capacities for better engagement in the multilateral trading systems, such as the Agricultural Commodity Exchanges in Africa,” said Ngwenya.
Magai has previously worked with the Rural Livelihoods and Economic Enhancement Programme/International Fund for Agriculture Development Agricultural Commercialization Fund (Malawi), and Women in Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa Alliance. He has also worked with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics, and Kenya and Citizen’s Network for Foreign Affairs and Rural Market Development Trust.
Actesa is a Comesa specialised agency designed to energise expanding markets and trade in staple food crops, contributing to African agriculture development and food security.
