Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva is representing President Paul Kagame at the 25th summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), which brings regional leaders to Zimbabwe’s capital on Thursday to discuss trade, investment and industrial development.
The meeting comes as the 21-member regional bloc seeks to strengthen economic ties and advance regional integration under the theme, “One Market, One Future: Fostering Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration.”
Discussions are expected to focus on improving trade among member states, attracting investment and supporting industries that can increase the value of products produced within the region.
Agriculture, manufacturing and critical minerals are among the sectors expected to feature in discussions on strengthening regional supply chains and expanding economic opportunities.
The summit will also present COMESA’s Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2026-2030, setting out the organisation’s priorities for the next five years. Member states are expected to assess progress in implementing regional integration measures and identify areas where further efforts are needed.
Founded on Dec. 8, 1994, COMESA replaced the Preferential Trade Area, established in 1981 to promote trade among countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. Its headquarters are in Lusaka, Zambia.
Rwanda joined the COMESA Free Trade Area on Jan. 1, 2004, alongside Burundi. The arrangement allows eligible goods to benefit from reduced or eliminated customs duties under agreed trade rules.
The bloc’s membership comprises Burundi, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
