May 23, 2001

    Excellencies Head of State and Government, Heads of international and regional organizations and institutions, The Secretary-general of COMESA,

Ladies and gentlemen,

    Here we come to the conclusion of the proceedings of our sixth ordinary Summit held under the theme: COMESA Free Trade Area: Gateway to Investment.

    I wish to congratulate you all on the successful completions of the proceedings of our Summit. I would like also to express our happiness for your

    Brief stay in most us in your second home country Egypt and an gratitude for your brotherly participation in our Summit.

    We do appreciate your personal contributions to the deliberations that have undoubtedly had a far-reaching and direct impact on the success achieved by meeting. This reflects the depth of our commitment to our common goals and our firm determination to proceed towards economic integration of our countries. Building on the achievement already made by declaring the Free Trade Area we have to accelerate the establishment of the Customs union, agree on the common External Customs Tariffs.

    By no doing, we will be asserting our adherence to the organization’s actim programme and our credibility for working together towards maximizing volume of inter-trade, realizing economic integration and fulfilling our undertaking grounds that to create the African Economic Community on such firm grounds that meet the ambitions and aspiration of all African states.

    Once again, I thank you all, and until we meet again in our coming summit due, Gad willing, in may next year, I wish you all success and safe return to your masterly countries. May Allah’s Peace, Mercy and Blessings be up on you.