The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, based in Lusaka, Zambia, was founded in 1993 as a successor to the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa (PTA), which was established in 1981. COMESA's Vision is to be a fully integrated, internationally competitive Regional Economic Community with high standards of living for all of its people ready to merge into an African Economic Community. Its Mission is to Endeavour to achieve sustainable economic and social progress in all Member States through increased co-operation and integration in all fields of development particularly in trade, customs and monetary affairs, transport, communication and information, technology, industry and energy, gender, agriculture, environment and natural resources