All is set for the four-day 24th COMESA Summit, which kicks off Monday, October 6, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya.
The first meeting will be the COMESA-EU Horticulture Connect, which is expected to bring together buyers and horticulture producers from the European Union to interact with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), including women-owned businesses from the region.
It will be followed by the 17th COMESA Business Forum and exhibitions on Tuesday, October 7th. The 20th Meeting of COMESA Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Peace and Security will take place on October 8, culminating in the 24th Summit of COMESA Heads of State and Government on October 9.
The 21 Member States are keen on the harmonisation of trade procedures. “Even the Heads of States and governments have realised the value add that trade brings to an economy. With the changing global landscape in trade, COMESA member states are thinking of how do we get our intra-African trade to grow to that level where we see ourselves as competitive”, said Regina Ombam, Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade.
“When the AFCFTA issue came into being discussed at the COMESA level, it was actually looking at having a free trade area for the entire African continent. The tripartite is actually getting the EAC, SADC and COMESA countries to form a tripartite market that brings together EAC, SADC and COMESA”, she explained in an interview.
Monday’s engagement is expected to strengthen the capacity of SMEs by providing them with firsthand knowledge of EU market requirements, certification processes, and quality standards, ensuring that they remain competitive in international trade.
Over the past years, the COMESA Secretariat has been organising trade missions for SMEs from Member States to participate in EU Business Partnership Dialogues meant to enhance market access by connecting the SMEs with European buyers, investors and trade facilitators.
“This has helped them secure export deals and expand distribution networks. “These engagements have been very helpful and contributed to the improved way of doing business for our SMEs,’’ said Ms Mshuka Kamwela, European Union Development Fund (EDF) Manager at COMESA Secretariat.
“It offers a platform where business leaders, policymakers, innovators and investors from across the region gather annually to network and explore ways of deepening trade and collaboration,” COMESA Business Council Chief Executive Officer Mr Teddy Soobramanien said ahead of the Forum.
The 20th Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which precedes the Heads of State and Government Summit, will be held on 8th October 2025 to review the peace and security situation in the COMESA region and to explore ways of promoting peace, strengthening democracy, and encouraging dialogue in conflict resolution.
Kenya, which has benefited immensely, is set to assume the rotating Chairmanship of COMESA from Burundi.
“Kenya, as one of the founding members of COMESA, has benefitted immensely from the regional bloc. This is because Kenya has a big market share in COMESA, which is around 16%. Kenya, in terms of earnings from COMESA, is almost getting to 3 billion USD”, Ombam added.
As delegates converge, Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a successful summit, underscoring the country’s central role in advancing regional integration, trade and inclusive economic growth across the continent.
The theme for this years’ Summit is Leveraging Digitization to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.
