The House of People’s Representatives (HPR) approved at a plenary session Wednesday the draft organic law on Tunisia’s accession to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) with 138 votes for, 1 against and 1 abstention.

Tunisia’s accession to this regional grouping is likely to help boost Tunisia’s exports to the African market.

Tunisia’s exports to these markets do not surpass 2.5% of the overall exports, according to an explanatory document of the accession process.

The COMESA is an international organization with a regional focus on East Africa, created in 1994 and aims to create a customs union between the 21 member countries.

Based in Lusaka in Zambia, it currently brings together 20 African countries, including Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.