Egypt, represented by the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), participated in the COMESA Infrastructure Experts Meetings held in the period from 17 to 19 June in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. These meetings were followed by a ministerial-level meeting conducted on 20 and 21 June 2019. The agenda of these Experts’ meetings comprised a number of hot topics, mainly the best ways to strengthen cooperation between member states with the aim of reducing telecom service costs, hence providing affordable access thereto. The attendees also discussed the proposals submitted for harmonizing the regulatory environment among these states, setting a common strategy for developing these states’ infrastructure. Moreover, they examined the current status of the COMESA project of the proposed cable that links the member states, and the causes of slaw pace of the project implementation. The attendees also discussed the delays in implementation of the Regional Cybersecurity and Cybercrimes Center and the COMESA data center.

It is worth mentioning that COMESA is one of the most active organizations in Africa that focuses on joint trade, energy, water management, telecommunications and information technology.