SAT/SMES-EA, ARIPO, AU and ARSO Meeting on the sidelines of the 9th COMESA Business Partnerships Forum and Linkages Fair in DRC Congo 22nd,February 2014

The meeting discussed ways of promoting the development and growth of small Businesses in Africa and at the same time increase industrial competitiveness of the indigenous industries.

The discussion focused on the creation of a platform to revolutionize and modernize the SMEs Sector towards supporting the Continents social economic development agenda by creating jobs, generating wealth and attracting both local and foreign direct investments

Specific perceived Roles of the collaborating Partners would be;

v  Research and Development Institutions: technology, product design and development

v  ARSO: Standardization of parts and components

v  ARIPO: Protection of innovation and branding of products

v  CBC-SMEs/ SME Africa Trust: identification of SMEs entrepreneurs and products

The above discussion involved:-Mr. Richard N. Muteti, Chairman COMESA Business Council SMEs Workgroup and Chairman, SME Africa Trust, Mr. Fernando dos Santos, Director Genera Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), Treasure Thembisile Maphanga, Director, Department of Trade and Industry, African Union Commission and Dr. Hermogene Nsengimana, Secretary General, African Organisation for Standardization.

THE 9th COMESA BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS FORUM AND LINKAGES FAIR- 21st-22nd , 2014- KINSHASA, DRC.

A MERGER BETWEEN BUSINESS AND INNOVATION ;

Integrating Competitiveness for  supply and value chains in the COMESA Region

 The upcoming 9th COMESA Business Partnerships Forum and Linkages Fair will be hosted in the sidelines of the 17th COMESA Heads of State Summit. The event will be held from the 21^st-22^nd of February 2014, in Kinshasa DRC, under the theme: The Merger Between Business And Innovation; Integrating Competitiveness For Supply And Value Chains In The COMESA Region.

The event brings together the key manufacturing Associations, leading international, regional and national companies and the Small and Medium Enterprises from the 19 COMESA member ountries.  The focus for 9^th COMESA Business Partnerships Forum and Fair will be promoting supply chain and value chain integration in the region, and harnessing innovation, technology for competitiveness. Issues for discussion include: 

·         Improving Efficiency through Regional Value Chains;

·         Innovation and Technology- leveraging technology for competitiveness;

·         Boosting Investment for Agriculture Sector;

·         Partnership for Profit and Competitiveness-Corporate Social Investment for Value;

·         Exploring Investment Opportunities for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing of Generic Drugs;  

·         Protecting authentic African Products and Dealing with Counterfeit and Parallel Imports.

 Various speakers from leading companies, private sector Associations, SME’s in the region have been invited to present and  lead oral discussions on the various topics. The intended outcome is to identify best practices, constraints and  propose solutions that will be used as advocacy positions on behalf of industry at the COMESA Summit; and also boost trade and private sector development.  

Richard N. Muteti

The Chairperson

COMESA Business Council SMEs Workgroup