The first stage of negotiations to establish a free trade zone between the three economic gatherings of COMESA-EAC-SADC has been completed, an Egyptian official said.

The three blocs stand for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community.

This stage covers the liberalization of the trade of goods and freedom of movement of businesspersons, head of the trade agreements and foreign trade sectors at the Trade and Industry Ministry Saeed Abdullah said.

The negotiations are held under a roadmap adopted by heads of the three bodies in June in Sharm El Sheikh, Abdullah said according to a ministry statement.

The second stage of negotiations will be launched soon to liberalize trade in services, intellectual property rights and competition policies, he said