COMESA Business Council

Our team had productive meetings last week with Valerie de Oliveira from Business ACP and Junior Lodge from Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) to discuss the synergy between the CBC programs/projects and the UNCDF's DFS4RES program. Our goal was to update our the organisations on CBC's initiatives and explore potential areas for collaboration. At CBC, we’re focused on driving impactful projects like the DFI, one of our flagship endeavors, aimed at fostering financial inclusivity.  It was enlightening to hear about UNCDF's DFS4RES program, which aligns closely with our objectives. These discussions have laid a strong foundation for future collaboration, and we are eager to work together to advance the agenda of supporting the private sector businesses. Teddy Soobramanien Dr Jonathan Pinifolo

We just concluded an amazing training session for SMEs in Bujumbura, Burundi, on food processing and handling under the Local Sourcing for Partnership project 🙌🤝. This training provided a fantastic platform for SMEs to showcase their products, share knowledge, and build valuable connections with corporate businesses 🌍. The SMES also received their well-deserved certificates🎓. A big thank you to Business ACP through the European Union project, the Chambre Fédérale de Commerce et d'Industrie du Burundi, the corporate businesses, and everyone who contributed to making this training a success 🙌. Teddy Soobramanien Gallina Tembo Tembo madalitso mbewe Zomahoun Jean-Patrice

Last Friday, we had a productive meeting with Mr. Giorgio Andreoli, Director General of the European Payments Council (EPC), at their headquarters in Brussels🇧🇪. We presented progress on the COMESA Digital Retail Payments Scheme and gained valuable insights on EPC's One-Leg Out (OLO) Instant Credit Transfer (OCT Inst) Scheme. Launched in November 2023, it is revolutionizing international payments in SEPA by ensuring, amongst other benefits, faster execution times; improved cost transparency; and enhanced payment status traceability. As we gear up to launch the COMESA Digital Retail Payments Platform, we're excited about the potential for greater collaboration with EPC. #FinancialInnovation #CrossBorderPayments #DigitalTransformation #GlobalPayments #FinTech #CrossBorderTransactions Teddy Soobramanien Dr Jonathan Pinifolo

We're concluding an incredible week in Cairo, where we've had the privilege of training impassioned small businesses, many led by women entrepreneurs, in digital and financial literacy - all towards unlocking new possibilities for growth and success in COMESA's burgeoning #digitaleconomy. What's more, we were honoured to make a courtesy call on the Federation of Egyptian Industries, one of our esteemed members and National Focal Points. Our discussions, electric with potential, saw us align on upcoming activities, including a horticulture trade mission to the Netherlands 🇳🇱, that will harness our combined expertise and collaborative networks; we're thrilled to join forces in bringing these visions to life! You'll find more updates here as we continue to drive innovation, foster growth, and build a more inclusive digital economy for all. #SMEempowerment #DigitalLiteracy #WomenInBusiness #FinancialInclusion #Innovation

In today’s rapidly changing world, conversations on climate action🌱 are more important than ever. The CBC, BDI - Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action had a fruitful meeting today at the Ministry. Key takeaways are: 🤝Collaborative Efforts: Emphasizing the need for strong partnerships between the public and private sectors to tackle climate change effectively. 🌱Green Innovations: Exploring innovative solutions and technologies that can help businesses reduce their carbon footprint and operate more sustainably. #More conversations on circular economy. 📜What are the best practices to getting everyone on board towards climate action. By focusing on a green economy, we can drive sustainable development that benefits both the environment and the economy💼. As CBC, we remain committed to promoting sustainable development and fostering a green economy. #Sustainability #ClimateAction #GreenEconomy #PrivateSector #SustainableDevelopment #CBC #BDI Teddy SoobramanienEva Gauß Jonathan KaupenjohannDr Jonathan PinifoloSalome Phiri

It’s a wrap! 🥳 Der #TDI24 geht zu Ende, jetzt geht es ran an die Umsetzung der vielen Ideen und Impulse. Ein herzliches Dankeschön an alle Speaker und die mehr als 1.500 Gäste, die dabei waren. In den vergangenen beiden Tagen haben wir auf dem EUREF-Campus Berlin gemeinsam intensiv über den #Zusammenhalt in polarisierten Welten gesprochen – auf der Gasometer-Stage, bei 10 Talks, Focus- und Expert Sessions und unzähligen bilateralen Gesprächen. Das Fazit: Die Welt verändert sich, die Uhr tickt, der Transformationsdruck für Wirtschaft und Politik ist riesig. Wenn wir wachsen wollen und weiterhin in der ersten Liga mitspielen wollen, geht das nur zusammen, als #Europa. Und Europa braucht Deutschland als Zugpferd. Danke an alle, die den #TDI24 möglich gemacht haben – vom Catering bis zur Technik. #Zusammenhalt is king. Wir freuen uns schon auf den #TDI25 am 23.-24. Juni 2025. Save the Date! 👋🏼

We had an incredible experience at this year’s German Day of Industry (TDI2024), organized by the BDI - Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. in Berlin Germany🇩🇪. Our CEO, Mr. Teddy Soobramanien, delivered a compelling Impulse statement and participated in a panel discussion on NewSpace 🛰️meets Industry🪐🌍 , moderated by Matthias Johannes Wachter. The CEO emphasized that space technology can address critical challenges in Africa, particularly in the agriculture and food security sector. He called for intensified cooperation between Europe and Africa in advancing innovation and technology. During the two-day event, the CBC team engaged with key German stakeholders, including Commerzbank AG💰 and had productive discussions with Mr. Benjamin Knoedler, Head of Private Sector Engagement at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) were we explored the importance of embracing new technology🌍🤝🏼📡 for private sector development. Another notable highlight was discussions with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH representatives, were we shared a common vision 🔗of amplifying the voice of entrepreneurs, especially women in business and the importance of CBC’s digital retail payment platform, highlighting its benefits for SMEs in the COMESA region. Thanks to the Global Perspective Initiatives, the Table Media for the interactions. And special thanks to the BDI for the invitation as #TDI2024 provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen CBC’s partnerships with German stakeholders, promoting trade and advocating for the private sector in the COMESA region. #BDI #IndustriesDevelopment #Partnerships #NewSpace #TDI Global Perspectives InitiativeAfrica.Table Teddy Soobramanien Philipp LöwensteinThomas Lingemann Rhoda Berger Arne SchütteDr Jonathan PinifoloEva GaußSalome Phiri

Our workshop "Digitalization Toolkits for Greater Financial Inclusion" kicked off today in Cairo, Egypt 🇪🇬 to a fantastic start! We were honoured to hear inspiring opening remarks from Dr. Sherif El Gabaly, our esteemed Vice President, and Dr. Amany Asfour, our valued member and President of the Africa Business Council. Did you know that in Egypt #SMEs contribute a whopping 43% to the country's GDP and that they account for over 75% of employment? Furthermore, according to a 2021 report by the Central Bank of Egypt, despite growth in #digitalpayments, cash still accounts for more than 90% of financial transactions in the country? These stats underscore why #financialinclusion for #SMEs is crucial! It's not just a trendy expression, it's about: ◾ Driving regional economic prosperity ◾ Creating job opportunities ◾ Enhancing fiscal and monetary policy effectiveness ◾ Contributing to overall financial stability Over the next two days, we're diving into exciting topics, including but not limited to the opportunities within the #AfCFTA for SMEs; #marketaccess tools; the COMESA Digital Retail Payments Platform and its potential to supercharge #SME participation in cross-border trade. Stay tuned for updates! #Digitalization #EconomicGrowth #tradefacilitation #inclusivepayments Teddy Soobramanien Egyptian Businessmen's Association Hopewell Musundire

We had an incredibly productive meeting with the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) today at their offices here in Lusaka! We shared insights on our Digital Financial Inclusion Program, geared towards the development of a digital #retailpayments infrastructure that is to serve MSMEs in COMESA, particularly those involved in #crossbordertrade. We are thrilled to announce that we are in the commissioning phase of the platform and anticipate to go live by the end of the year. We are excited to partner with ZDA as one of our strategic collaborators for the program in the areas of, amongst others, capacity building - as true to the data collected in the development of our business case, it was noted that #crossborderpayments are a significant challenge for traders - and we’re eager to help bridge this gap! This collaboration will leverage our seven comprehensive training modules, designed to equip #MSMEs with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in digital cross-border trade, and we can't wait to see the positive impact of this collaboration on the business community! Teddy Soobramanien Dr Jonathan Pinifolo Jessica Mwinga - Chombo Gabriel Musentekwa

As part of Strengthening Private sector development in the COMESA Region, the CBC team paid a courtesy call on UTICA Tunisie, and the Ministry of Trade and Export Development while in Tunisia. These meetings provided an excellent opportunity to discuss ongoing collaborations and highlight the importance of joint efforts in promoting trade and investment in the private sector. Led by Board President Mr. James Chimwaza, the CBC delegation reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring Tunisia and other Francophone COMESA member states participate in upcoming projects such as the AfCFTA and the DFI training. tarek mejaouel Leila BELKHIRIA JABER Noura Ben Mohamed Guesmi Nouha Ben Abdessalem Lazhar Bannour Teddy Soobramanien James Chimwaza Dr Jonathan Pinifolo Salome Phiri Domisa S. Musonda #TradeDevelopment #AfCFTA #PrivateSectorDevelopment #Partnerships #Collaborations