Harare — ZIMBABWE welcomes all delegates to the 13th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Summit, which begins today in the resort town of Victoria Falls.

The country has prepared well to host this important summit and remains confident that the delegates will find Zimbabweans hospitable and capable of meeting their expectations.

The main focus of the summit is to strengthen and consolidate the Free Trade Area, and push forward the agenda of deepening economic integration.

Indeed, the summit is taking place on the back of significant strides, which Comesa has made over the years towards boosting intra-regional trade.

And capping this progress will be the major highlight of the summit -- the launch of the Comesa Customs Union by the Heads of State and Government in the resort town on June 7.

The Customs Union, no doubt, marks an important milestone in the integration process of Comesa as it will create economic space in which goods will move freely.

With the Comesa Customs Union in place, the member countries should be assured of enhanced flow of goods and services as producers would sell their goods to bigger markets.

Latest statistics show that intra-Comesa trade has increased five-fold from US$3 billion in 1997 to around US$15 billion in 2008. And projections are that the trade would increase more rapidly under the Customs Union.

Comesa's institutions have also done well over the years, and we single out the PTA Bank for rendering unwavering support to Zimbabwe, especially during the country's challenging times of illegal sanctions.

There are pledges by the bank to continue offering credit lines to our private sector, which is slowly emerging from the economic crisis.

We also welcome plans by the PTA Bank to establish a regional office in Zimbabwe. This clearly demonstrates the confidence which Comesa has in the country.

Among other activities expected during the summit are a business forum and exhibition of products from Comesa countries.

This is an opportunity, which Zimbabwean companies must grab and use to showcase their products, which Comesa secretary-general Mr Sindiso Ngwenya has described as of high quality.

Zimbabwe's products, particularly processed food, have a tradition of natural flavour, as they are free from genetic modifications, which destroy taste and have negative health implications.

With the country hosting the summit, we also believe this is an opportunity for local companies to regain lost markets and stake a claim in the expanding Comesa market with the envisaged Customs Union.

However, most local companies are faced with the challenge of recapitalisation and increasing capacity utilisation in order to compete successfully against their regional counterparts.

But we believe that once local manufacturers are operating at optimum levels, they will give Zimbabwe the muscle necessary to form the critical mass needed for the country to help Comesa move to a higher level of integration.

We wish all Comesa delegates fruitful deliberations during the summit and a happy stay in Zimbabwe.