PRESS RELEASE 21 OCTOBER, 2008

The Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Mr Pakalitha Mosisili will lead the Lesotho delegation to the SADC-COMESA-EAC (East African Commission) Tripartite Summit which will take place from 22 – 23 October, 2008 in Kampala, Uganda.

The Summit was preceded by the Officials and Ministerial Meetings, and has been hailed as historic since for the first time 26 Heads of State and Government of the tripartite forum will meet to deliberate on issues of common interest towards hastening the achievement of African economic and political integration under the African Union agenda as well as boosting industrialization, agriculture and food security.

The issues include:

• Trade;
• Investment;
• Enabling Free Movement of People;
• Infrastructure;
• Transport Corridors; and
• Joint Projects.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the East African Community (ECA) are all recognized under the African Union conventions as building blocks for a Pan-African Economic Community and continental Unity.

The three regional economic communities have a total population and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 527 million and USD625 billion respectively.

The delegation comprises the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, the Hon. Mohlabi K. Tsekoa, The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, the Hon. Timothy Thahane, the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister’s office, Mrs. ‘Mamohlomi Seitlheko, the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Mr. J.T. Metsing, Lesotho Ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Motlatsi Ramafole and Lesotho High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E. Mrs. Lineo Ntoane.

Source: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations