Madagascar said it is ready to host delegations from 19 countries for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) summit scheduled in Antananarivo on Oct. 18-19, a statement from the presidency said Thursday.

The COMESA's Secretary General Sindiso Ndema Ngwenya is in visit in Madagascar currently to inspect the preparation work of the summit. He was reassured by Madagascar's President Hery Rajaonarimampianina Wednesday that preparation works are in good way.

The theme of the summit focuses on inclusive and sustainable industrialization.

COMESA, a free trade area giving customs opportunity between its members, gathers 19 member states.

Madagascar is among the first COMESA countries which have reduced to 100 percent its customs tariff at regional level since the launch of the Free Trade Area (FTA) in 2000.

COMESA supports Madagascar, in agriculture, in climate change, as well as in the fight against maritime piracy and financial crime.

source : xinhua