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Happiness Zengeni recently in SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt
President Mugabe arrived back home last night from Sharm El Sheik, Egypt where he attended the historic 3rd Tripartite Summit of three regional economic groupings.

The summit saw the launch of the Tripartite Free Trade Area, which not only created the largest economic bloc in Africa, but also set the pace for the launch of the continental FTA in 2017.

Heads of State or their representatives signed the comesa-EAC-sadc Tripartite Agreement and the Sharm El Sheikh Declaration launching the Tripartite FTA. The leaders directed the Member/Partner States to expedite the process towards the operationalisation of the comesa-EAC-sadc Tripartite Free Trade Area by finalising outstanding issues.

These include the Elimination of Import Duties, Trade Remedies and Rules of Origin, which will form part of the comesa-EAC-sadc TFTA Agreement.

Following the signing, the Countries will proceed to initiate the ratification process through their legislative assemblies. The Agreement will come into force once ratification is attained by three quarters of the Member States.

The leaders also directed the commencement of Phase II negotiations covering trade in services, cooperation in trade and development, competition policy, intellectual property rights and cross border investments.

Further, they directed that all negotiations, including outstanding work be carried out in accordance with principles, processes and institutional structures as approved by summit.

President Mugabe was chairperson of the Tripartite in his capacity as sadc chair.

He handed over the chairmanship to Ethiopian President Ato Hailemariam Desalegn.

The President was welcomed at the airport by Vice Presidents Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa, Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs Miriam Chikukwa and other senior Government officials

President Mugabe also held bilateral talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi at the close of the meeting.