- KICC, Nairobi | Kenya
- ps.trade@trade.go.ke Phone: +254 20 2242829
COMESA Summit Overview
Introduction
The Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, in collaboration with key national institutions and the COMESA Secretariat, is spearheading the preparations for the 24th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government, scheduled to take place from 7th to 9th October 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, Kenya.
The Summit is a flagship gathering of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Africa’s largest regional economic community. It will bring together Heads of State and Government of the 21 Member States, Ministers, senior government officials, leaders of international organizations, development partners, business leaders, and civil society actors.
This year’s Summit will convene under the theme:
“Leveraging Digitalization to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.”
The theme underscores COMESA’s resolve to harness digital innovations and technologies as transformative tools for advancing intra-regional trade, industrialization, food security, climate resilience, and inclusive participation of women and youth in economic development.
Background and Context
COMESA, with a population of 682 million people and a GDP of over USD 1 trillion, has long been a driving force in Africa’s regional integration agenda. With intra-regional trade valued at USD 454 billion as of December 2024, COMESA represents both a large domestic market and a gateway to global markets.
The 24th Summit comes at a critical juncture, as Member States seek to:
- Recover from the lingering effects of global shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions.
- Leverage the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
- Address peace, governance, and security challenges that continue to impact regional stability.
- Harness digitalization as an enabler of trade, investment, and inclusive growth.
Kenya’s hosting of this Summit reaffirms the country’s leadership in advancing regional integration, promoting international trade, and fostering innovation-driven economic transformation.
Sequence of Events
The Summit will begin with the COMESA–EU Horticulture Connect, a high-level trade and investment engagement between European Union buyers and COMESA horticultural exporters.
Key Features:
- Business-to-Business (B2B) matchmaking to connect EU buyers with COMESA suppliers.
- Business-to-Government (B2G) engagements to address regulatory and policy issues.
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C) networking to expand distribution channels.
- Farm visits showcasing Kenya’s horticultural strengths in floriculture, fruits, and vegetables.
- Panel sessions to share market intelligence, technology transfer opportunities, and sustainability practices.
The forum aims to strengthen market linkages, technology transfer, and investment in cold-chain infrastructure and quality systems, enhancing COMESA’s ability to meet Europe’s stringent market requirements.
The session will be formally opened by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development and the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry.
The 18th COMESA Business Forum is the premier platform for public-private dialogue in the region. Co-hosted by COMESA, the Government of Kenya, the COMESA Business Council (CBC), and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), the Forum will bring together Ministers, CEOs, investors, innovators, and development partners.
Thematic Sessions:
- Smart Agriculture and Value Addition – showcasing how agritech and precision farming can enhance productivity, value addition, and food security.
- Digitalization of Trade and Investment Promotion – focusing on electronic certificates of origin, single window customs systems, e-commerce, and digital finance.
- Logistics, Transport, and Free Movement of Businesspersons – exploring cargo tracking, port efficiency, and policy reforms to facilitate business mobility.
Expected Outcomes:
- Adoption of policy and business recommendations to strengthen value chains and trade facilitation.
- Presentation of successful case studies from horticulture, leather, and digital technology sectors.
- Preparation of the COMESA Business Declaration, a document that will be presented to the Summit of Heads of State and Government.
This Forum will be presided over by H.E. Prof. Kithure Kindiki, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.
The Summit will also feature the 20th Meeting of COMESA Ministers of Foreign Affairs, convened virtually.
Agenda:
- Review of a report on Peace, Governance, and Security, developed from the meeting of officials held on 29th–30th September 2025.
- Deliberations on strategies for conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and governance reforms.
- Strengthening of regional coordination mechanisms to address cross-border conflicts and insecurity.
This meeting will be chaired by H.E. Prof. Kithure Kindiki, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.
The centerpiece of the week will be the 24th Summit of Heads of State and Government, officiated by H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, PhD., C.G.H, President of the Republic of Kenya.
Key Deliberations:
- Adoption of the COMESA Business Declaration and other Summit decisions.
- Review of progress in implementing regional integration programmes, including trade facilitation, customs cooperation, and industrialization.
- Endorsement of strategies to harness digital technologies for trade, agriculture, and industrial development.
- Discussions on peace, security, and governance, with a focus on regional stability as a foundation for economic transformation.
- Strengthening partnerships with the African Union, AfCFTA Secretariat, and international partners.
The Summit will culminate in a set of resolutions and declarations that will guide COMESA’s integration and development agenda for the coming years.
The success of the Summit is underpinned by strong collaboration between the COMESA Secretariat, the Government of Kenya, the COMESA Business Council (CBC), the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), and a wide range of regional and international partners.
Key COMESA institutions involved include:
- COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB).
- Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI).
- Trade and Development Bank (TDB).
- COMESA Re-Insurance Company (ZEP-Re).
- African Trade and Investment Development Insurance Agency (ATIDI).
- COMESA Competition Commission (CCC).
- COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA).
- Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA).
These institutions will also showcase their contributions to COMESA’s 30 years of impact in regional growth and integration.
The 24th Comesa Summit of Heads of State will be held on 9th October, 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi and will be hosted by the Government of the Republic of Kenya. The Summit will be preceded by COMESA Business Forum on the 7th of October and the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 8th October, 2025 at the same venue.
The information contained in this document is for the benefit of participants and delegates intending to attend the Summit and the preceding events.
General Programme of the 24th Summit of COMESA Heads of State and Government
The 24th Comesa Summit of Heads of State and Government and the preceding events will run for three days; from Tuesday, 7th to Thursday, 9th October, 2025 at the KICC.
Day one will be the 17th COMESA Business Forum on 7th October, 2025.
Day two will be the closed door 20th Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Peace and Security matters.
Day three will be the 24th Summit, which will consist of both Open and Closed sessions of Heads of State and Government of the Member States. The discussions will address several critical opportunities and challenges facing COMESA Member States guided by the theme: ‘Leveraging digitalization to deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth’.