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In the latest episode of Connecting Africa, CNN International’s Eleni Giokos visits the Seychelles. The programme explores what it means to be a part of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa [COMESA], and delves deeper into the blue economy, where marine resources are used sustainability and promote economic growth.
The Seychelles is one of 21 countries that are part of the COMESA. Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, describes the COMESA mission, “COMESA is the common market for Eastern and Southern Africa, which is a regional economic community. It has a wide footprint across the continent. Their main objective is for us to support our member states to transform their economies anchored on trade, to ensure that there's sustainable economic development to uplift the living standards of our citizens.”
COMESA tailors programs and instruments specifically for small-to-medium enterprises [SME]. This includes a simplified trade regime of clearing goods for small scale traders, of whom around 70% are women. Kapwepwe continues, “For those women, it's more than just trade. It's a way of life. It's a way of supporting their families. We come in to facilitate that process. We've engaged with the Cross Border Traders Association and we've seen that this structured approach really does help inform what is required.”
The programme then travels to Nairobi and Crown Paints, which produces 3 million litres of paint every month. Making the most of their geographical setting is key for the business, according to CEO Rakesh Rao. “COMESA is one of the biggest advantages because we can exchange our goods freely from each country. It's a great advantage to free movement of goods due to commerce in in East Africa.”
Crown Paints describes itself as the most innovative paint company in East Africa, pointing to their computerised tinting machines which they say allow them to dispense thousands of different shades in minutes.
Specialising in all thing steel-related, Tembo Steels in Uganda aims to utilise technology to help the company become one of the most innovative operators on the continent. Chairman and MD, Sanjay Awasthi, explains that having a base in Uganda comes with many advantages. “It is a great location and it offers huge amount of opportunities in terms of business and people and connectivity into the entire region,” he says.
Tembo exports to several countries in East Africa and Awasthi acknowledges that the logistics of trading with neighbouring countries can be challenging. However, he also believes that being part of a larger community will always be good for business. “It's an advantage for the whole community to be connected because 200 million people will consume steel, cement, the commodity.”
Later in the programme, Giokos meets Chrissant Barbe, Principal Policy Analyst in the Blue Economy Department. “The blue economy is all about the sustainable use or the sustainable development of the ocean,” he explains, "The biggest lesson is you need to get your community involved in this development. Some people see development or strategy as a top-down strategy and some see it as a bottom-up strategy. But I will say it's a combination. You need to get your people, your community involved because they are one of the main factors and they are one of the main beneficiaries of this development.”
Head of Seychelles Aquaculture, Aubrey Lesperance outlines the objectives of the organisation, “We are aiming for the whole entire sector in Seychelles to go up to a production capacity of 60,000 tons within the next 20 to 30 years,” she says.
https://edition.cnn.com/specials/business/connecting-africa
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