Kenya has called on COMESA member states to act swiftly in eliminating barriers that hinder intra-African trade.
Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, expressed concern that trade within the region remains at just 14%, a figure far below the bloc’s potential.
Speaking during the 24th COMESA Summit being held in Nairobi, Kenya, the CS urged the more than 1,000 delegates attending the 18th COMESA Business Forum and Exhibition to centre their discussions on critical issues.
“Let us engage with a sense of purpose and urgency. Let’s use this platform to share best practices, confront challenges head-on, and devise innovative solutions that will truly transform our region into a beacon of economic prosperity,” he said.
He emphasised the need for targeted solutions to remove trade obstacles and unlock the region’s full economic potential.
“Intra-COMESA Trade is at about 14pc, a number that is way below our potential. Our conversations today should revolve around what we must do to promote free trade. It shouldn’t be academic but about issues that hamper trade. This is a critical high-level public private dialogue that embodies our shared commitment to unlocking the immense potential of our region.” He said.
“The recommendations that will emerge from this forum will not remain as mere words but will be distilled into the COMESA Business Declaration, which will be presented at the 24th COMESA Summit of the Heads of State and Government. Your insights will directly inform the policies and strategies that will guide our region’s economic future”, he reiterated.
In particular, he highlighted cross-border delays that have negatively impacted the horticultural value chain, a sector that plays a critical role in driving regional trade, enhancing agricultural productivity, and promoting economic prosperity..
“It takes four to five hours to cross a border on a good day, sometimes even an entire day. Now imagine the losses when one has to cross four such borders.” He stressed the urgent need to streamline the movement of goods and people across the region. “We must make cross-border movement seamless. Unnecessary stops must be eliminated, and the free movement across the region must be eased,” he emphasised.
He cited Kenya as a leading example, noting that the country has opened its borders by abolishing visa requirements for African citizens, a move aimed at facilitating free trade and regional integration.
“Movement across the region is important. Kenya has abolished visas for African countries; you don’t need to make elaborate travel plans, you just hop onto the next plane to trade. Free movement of people and goods is key. Alot must be done to open these areas”, he told the delegates.
On digitisation, he noted that Kenya had made significant strides in expanding digital penetration, emphasising the need for every country to invest in digital infrastructure. He underscored the importance of building strong digital connections to improve market access, including the development of cold storage infrastructure in the horticulture sector to reduce post-harvest losses.
“We must invest in digital skills through our universities and support seamless financial transactions,” he said. Kenya is the home of M-Pesa, which has already gone regional. There’s no need to duplicate services; we can adopt successful models and replicate them at the regional level.” He advised.
“If we adopt these changes, trade will grow,” he said. “Let’s fully exploit the potential within our region, which has a population of over 600 million people. We need to recognise the vast opportunities in this market. It’s even larger than the entire U.S. population.” He added.
He also urged member states to tap into the tourism sector, highlighting its potential within the region. “Why would you leave a beach in Mombasa or the Maasai Mara, a world-renowned heritage site, to go elsewhere?” he posed. “Let’s boost tourism within the COMESA region. It’s time for Africa and COMESA to think local and regional.”
The four-day summit kicked off on Monday with the COMESA-EU Horticulture Connect. The Business Forum, opened by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, precedes the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs scheduled for Wednesday, October 8.
The summit will culminate in the COMESA Heads of State and Government Meeting, bringing the conference to a close on Thursday.
