The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has achieved about 80 percent of market integration with Intra-COMESA Trade increasing to $14 billion in 2024 from a mere $2 billion in the year 2000.
COMESA Secretary General (SG) Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe said that with 16 members operating under the Free Trade Area (FTA), the trading bloc has attained several economic integration milestones aimed at facilitating intra-regional trade through various interventions like customs border management, simplifying clearance procedures and digitalisation of trading instruments.
Speaking in Nairobi, during the 24th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government, Kapwepwe said that this year’s summit theme, “Leveraging Digitalisation to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth”, held special resonance as it reflects COMESA’s vision to harness technology for economic transformation, empowerment of people and fostering a resilient future.
“This is especially so, given the existing global trade policy uncertainties, with rising protectionism and geoeconomic confrontations, which lead to increased tariffs and trade barriers, thereby disrupting supply chains and increasing the cost of doing business,” she said.
Kapwepwe said they were moving with speed to digitalise every aspect of trade facilitation instruments, geared towards construction of world-class physical and digital infrastructure.
The SG disclosed that the $2.5 billion COMESA–World Bank Digital Acceleration Programme is actively rolling out in 2025, targeting the connection of 180 million people and digital services for at least 100 million more by 2030.
She highlighted that this initiative prioritises access for women, youth, refugees, businesses and public agencies, adding that the Africa Cloud Ecosystem project, a first of its kind, is delivering reliable and affordable cloud services for crucial sectors like agriculture, health and education.
Kapwepwe said that positioning the region as an attractive investment hub on the continent is one of their top priorities, explaining that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to COMESA surged by 154 percent to USD 65 billion in 2024, the strongest among the African economic blocs.
“Out of the USD 100 billion FDI that reached Africa in 2024, 65 percent was directed to the COMESA Region. We need to further increase the FDI by at least 25 to 30 percent by utilising COMESA Institutions such Trade and Development Bank, ZEPRE reinsurance, COMESA Competition Commission and others who directly participate in various sectors,” she said.
According to Kapwepwe, empowering women and youth who represent more than 60 percent of the African population, continues to be their priority, with skills training being provided to women in business, as they encourage women and youth to take on leadership roles and participate in decision-making processes to promote gender and equality.
She added that COMESA remains steadfast in advancing environmental sustainability and climate resilience, where last year they held a successful continental dialogue with the African Union Commission on carbon markets and climate finance, alongside practical interventions in resilience-building that have elevated institutional capacity, improved negotiation readiness at global climate summits and fostered alignment between climate action and sustainable development.
At the same time, the SG said that COMESA has spearheaded modernisation efforts in agriculture and food security by expanding smart technology, deploying real-time analytics and investing in green infrastructure, while the adoption of regionwide frameworks has fortified climate resilience and stabilised food markets.
“Combined with advances in livestock, blue economy, pharmaceuticals and industry, these integrated programmes have strengthened value chains, improved market access and standards and fast-tracked investment reforms, driving COMESA’s journey towards an inclusive, resilient and sustainable regional economy,” she said.
On peace and security agenda, Kapwepwe said the 20th meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs held on 8th October 2025 in Nairobi, reviewed the progress made in the implementation of various programmatic activities towards promoting peace and security.
She highlighted that the meeting noted the progress made in the implementation in various programmatic areas including conflict prevention and management, the countering of violent extremism and terrorism, combating money laundering and financing of terrorism and support to post-conflict reconstruction and development.
“In our deliberations, let us confront persistent obstacles such as delay in delivering commitments, slow ratification and implementation of trade policy instruments and the digital divide with renewed commitment and collective resolve,” she said.
“Let us be bold in reform, diligent in execution and innovative in cultivating partnerships including our relationships with the African Union, European Union, World Bank, African Development Bank, Regional Economic Communities and other global and continental partners,” Kapwepwe said.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
