COMESA Secretariat

The COMESA Secretariat is the headquarters of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, on Ben Bella Road in Lusaka, Zambia. COMESA is a regional economic community of 21 member states, and the secretariat in Lusaka runs its day-to-day work. According to COMESA's website, the organisation was formed in December 1994 to replace the earlier Preferential Trade Area. Its strategy is summed up as "economic prosperity through regional integration". Its Free Trade Area began on 31 October 2000, when nine member states removed tariffs on goods originating in COMESA countries, and it has since worked towards a customs union. The secretariat's programme divisions cover infrastructure development; agriculture, industry and the private sector; trade and customs; and gender and social affairs. COMESA's associated institutions include the Trade and Development Bank, the African Trade Insurance Agency, the reinsurer ZEP-Re, the Regional Payment and Settlement System and the COMESA Competition Commission. Many countries' ambassadors in Lusaka are also accredited to COMESA. The secretariat's telephone numbers are +260 211 229 725 to 731 and +260 211 428 500. An email address, postal address and opening hours are not published in readable form on the website.

Ben Bella Road, Lusaka, Zambia
Lusaka