Nairobi is set to take centre stage in regional diplomacy as the 24th COMESA Summit kicks off Monday, October 6, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The four-day event will bring together leaders, policymakers, and business representatives from across the 21-member bloc to chart a new course for trade integration and economic growth in Africa.
The summit opens with the COMESA–EU Horticulture Connect, a platform designed to link European buyers with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the region particularly women-led agribusinesses. The engagement aims to help local producers understand EU market standards, certification procedures, and export requirements, strengthening their foothold in international trade.
Tuesday, October 7, will feature the 17th COMESA Business Forum and exhibitions, followed by the 20th Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Peace and Security on October 8. The high-level proceedings will culminate in the 24th Heads of State and Government Summit on October 9.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Trade, Regina Ombam, underscored the bloc’s renewed focus on harmonising trade procedures and boosting intra-African commerce.
“Even the Heads of State and governments have realised the immense value that trade brings to an economy. With the shifting global landscape, COMESA members are asking how we can grow intra-African trade to a level where we remain globally competitive,” said Ombam.
She noted that COMESA continues to play a key role in advancing continental economic unity through frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Tripartite Free Trade Area which brings together COMESA, the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Over the years, the COMESA Secretariat has been facilitating trade missions that connect regional SMEs to European buyers and investors through Business Partnership Dialogues. These initiatives have proven vital in expanding market access and promoting sustainable trade partnerships between Africa and Europe.
As delegates converge in Nairobi, expectations are high that the summit will deliver concrete measures to enhance regional integration, empower SMEs, and reinforce Africa’s position in the global trading system.
