THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION BETWEEN EGYPT AND THE COUNTRIES OF SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA "COMESA" ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

The research deals with the comesa, one of the largest economic blocs in the african, consisting of 19 African countries, including Egypt. The study aims to demonstrate the impact of comesa on economic development and environment in Egypt.
Methodology The researchers relied on this study:
1- descriptive approach: through the examination of reports and information that refer to the subject of the study as reports (Ministry of Commerce and Industry - COMESA database - the Central Bureau of Statistics)
2- Method of statistical analysis: Analysis of statistics of foreign trade statistics of COMESA countries and presented in simple statistical tables and graphs. And the calculation of some statistical measures as the correlation coefficient Pearson (R), (Chi Square), using the statistical program of social sciences: SPSS
3. The tools used by the researchers are quantitative (quantitative) data of foreign trade statistics obtained from the external trade point of the Central Statistical Organization
This was the trade exchange between the member countries amounted to COMESA about $ 5.6 billion in 2005, compared with about $ 4.5 billion in 2002 and then increased to $ 6.3 billion in 2006, representing petroleum exports, tea, sugar, barley, coffee, Copper plates are among the most important commodities exchanged among Member States. Where Egyptian exports to Africa in 2014 amounted to about $ 8.3 billion, equivalent to only 14% of the total Egyptian exports to the world, which amounted to about $ 26 billion in 2014 it has exceeded Egypt's imports from Africa to $ 2.1 billion in 2014 to represent 7.1 Of the total Egyptian imports from the world, which amounted to about 70 billion dollars during the same year.
- The researchers found that there is a very strong correlation between the human development index Y2 and variable D (comesa membership), where the correlation coefficient value R = 80% and this confirms the positive effect For comesa on human development.
-There is a correlation between X2 (per capita CO2), variable D where per capita 85% of the CO2 gas of the total gases rising and polluting environment
- The value of )K²( = 0.002 is less than .05 if it is a statistically significant function, than there is a relationship between production,  pollution and chronic diseases with 95% confidence
The most important recommendations:
1- the lack of good input production, and the continuous emphasis on the quality of raw materials and ingredients.
2-. Recycle the waste, and benefit from the economic return achieved to reduce the cost of production, and the safe disposal of waste.
3- Use of modern technologies in production and processing to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other polluting emissions to the environment.
4- Contributing to solving the problem of unemployment and balance of trade through the expansion of production, processing and export by providing qualified personnel and trained manpower.
5- Expanding the establishment of exhibitions and international markets throughout the year to introduce Egyptian products.