Secretary-General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Sindiso Ndema Ngwenya praised the role played by Egypt in Africa particularly as regards enhancing regional integration.

In statements to MENA, Ngwenya, who is currently visiting Cairo, expressed appreciation that Egypt has restored its pioneering role in Africa.

The COMESA will follow up the upcoming parliamentary elections, he said, adding that it will dispatch 50 observers to Egypt.

He added that he met during his current visit to Egypt with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

The parliamentary elections were on the agenda of their talks as being the third and final step in the roadmap, he said.

He referred to continuing contacts with Shoukry as part of following up the outcome of the three economic blocs summit hosted in Sharm El Sheikh in May and the steps taken to establish a free trade zone among the three groupings.

The meeting also covered cooperation projects within the framework of the COMESA particularly small, medium and micro-scale enterprises and the maritime linkage between Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean via the River Nile which aims at turning the river into a navigation waterway, he said.

He pointed out that his current visit to Egypt is part of preparations for the Paris conference on climate change, slated for November in France.

He underlined the importance of the investment conference to be organized by Egypt in October

Source: MENA