The European Union (EU) yesterday began training 40 officials of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) in the use of a €12,5-million software package for the production of external trade statistics in the region, a Comesa spokesperson said.

Eurotrace, used by EU member states, will boost regional grouping of the 20 member states' participation in global trade, attract foreign direct investment to the region through enhanced compiling, analysis and harmonising of important trade data, said Erastus Mwencha, Secretary-General of Comesa.

He said Eurotrace would also help access the impact of trade policies and integration, and the creation of a customs union for the trade bloc scheduled for next January.

The setting up of Eurotrace in the 20-member states project comes in the wake of increased relations between the EU and Comesa.

Last month, Comesa signed a €21-million grant agreement for four years with the EU to finance regional information and communication systems in four regional groupings that include the East African Community, Inter-Governmental Authority and Development and the Indian Ocean Commission.

This is in a bid to reduce the cost of trade and investment, stimulate economic growth and cut poverty in the region.

The Comesa member states are Kenya, Egypt, Malawi, Mauritius, Madagascar, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Angola, Burundi, The Comores, Djiboti, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Zimbabwe. – Sapa-DPA.