Doing business in COMESA countries Burundi Comoros Malawi Mauritius

Course summary (Doing business in COMESA countries)

The economy of COMESA region

With its 19 member states, population of over 389 million and annual import bill of around US$32 billion with an export bill of US$82 billion COMESA forms a major market place for both internal and external trading. Its area is impressive on the map of the African Continent covering a geographical area of 12 Million (sq km).

Despite the global crisis, growth in Sub Sahara Africa (SSA) continued to be relatively strong growing by approximately 5.9% in 2008 compared to 6.7% in 2007.

Growth in oil importing countries is estimated to have been 8%, slightly lower than in the previous year. This was a result of lower than expected output in the Niger Delta, Chad and Equatorial Guinea. Non oil exporters grew by a 5% in 2008, lower than the previous year with Uganda and Ethiopia registering the highest growth.

Example of the course Doing business in COMESA countries:

Inflation across SSA is estimated to have averaged 11.7% in 2008 compared to 7.1% in 2007. All the sub-regions recorded an increase in prices reflecting higher inflationary pressures that built up during 2008 from higher food and fuel prices.

Oil exporting countries average inflation is estimated to have risen to 9.9% from 5.7%, with Nigeria and Angola showing significant increases. The rest of SSA saw significant rises, in particular Seychelles, Kenya and Ethiopia.

In 2008, the amount of investment going to the oil exporting countries declined to 20.4% of GDP from 21.9% in 2007. This was reflected in almost all the oil exporting countries. The rest of SSA on the other hand registered a slight increase in investments particularly in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi and Namibia.

Member states: Burundi, Comoros, D.R. Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

NOTE: See learning units Doing business in ... Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda for other COMESA countries.

Doing, Business, COMESA, Africa, countries, Burundi, Comoros, Malawi, Mauritius, Economy of COMESA, Common market, Eastern, Southern Africa, region, Eritrea, Seychelles, Somalia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Master, international business