Online Reporter
Richard Muponde
Zimpapers Politics Hub
THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community have reaffirmed their commitment to inclusive regional integration following the successful conclusion of the Tripartite Youth and Women Trade Policy Dialogue Forum in Nairobi.
Held from May 20 to 21 under the theme “From Participation to Prosperity: A Policy Dialogue on Youth and Women in Agribusiness and Cross-Border Trade,” the Forum brought together policymakers, traders and development partners to strengthen the participation of youth and women in the implementation of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA).
Opening the Forum, COMESA Director of Gender and Social Affairs Dr Christopher Hugh Onyango said the engagement reflected a shared determination to deepen regional integration while ensuring that cross-border trade benefits ordinary citizens.
“This dialogue reflects our collective commitment to strengthening inclusive regional and continental integration and ensuring that the benefits of cross-border trade are accessible to all, particularly youth and women who are at the centre of small-scale and informal trade across our borders,” said Dr Onyango.
He stressed the need to strengthen the implementation and accessibility of the Tripartite Simplified Trade Regime (TSTR), saying policies must be informed by the real experiences of traders themselves.
“Youth and women traders must have a voice in shaping the frameworks and programmes that directly affect their businesses and livelihoods,” he said.
SADC Secretariat director of industrial development and trade Dr Dhunraj Kassee described the Forum as a turning point in recognising young people as drivers of regional economic transformation.
“The Forum serves as a fundamental shift from viewing youth as participants in trade to recognising them as drivers of trade, growth, and transformation,” said Dr Kassee.
He noted that many young traders remain trapped on the margins of formal trade systems due to high transaction costs, limited information and persistent non-tariff barriers, adding that the TSTR was introduced to ease such constraints.
EAC coordinator of Tripartite Programmes Ms Annette Kenganzi said the TFTA seeks to create a larger integrated market by reducing tariffs, cutting border red tape and improving transport and logistics systems across member states.
She encouraged young entrepreneurs and women traders to embrace e-commerce and digital payment systems to expand regional trade opportunities.
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa Senior Specialist for Food Trade Policy Mr Echessah Protase said youth and women are critical drivers of Africa’s agrifood systems transformation, enterprise development, innovation, and intra-African trade despite facing barriers such as cumbersome border procedures, limited market information and compliance costs.
