COMESA SUMMIT IN KENYA

Kenya will be privileged to host the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit of the Heads of State and Government at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, between October 7–9, 2025.

The signing of the Host Agreement officially set into motion preparations for the Summit. In his statement at the ceremony, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry, welcomed the summit's high-level meeting of Heads of State and Government, ministers, policymakers, private sector leaders, and development partners from the whole region.

"As a bloc, we have made significant progress, including the recent entry into force of the COMESA–EAC–SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area, which represents Africa's largest single market. There are still challenges, though. We must continue to work together to remove Non-Tariff Barriers and harmonize our policies to maximize the potential of intra-COMESA trade," Hon. Kinyanjui said.

He went on to say: "The work to be accomplished is not for one country. It calls for the collective political will and joint action of all our member states so that the choices we make yield genuine dividends for our people."

The Summit this year will be held under the theme: "Leveraging Digitalization to Deepen Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth." The theme reflects COMESA's strong commitment to harnessed value-creation capacity of technology in an effort to increase the competitiveness of trade, deepen the regional value chains, and support inclusive development among member states.

Dr. Dev Haman, COMESA Assistant Secretary General (Administration and Finance) referred to the central place of digital transformation in unlocking opportunities. "The COMESA 2025 Summit is a watershed moment for our region. By embracing digitalization, we can increase trade, drive industrialization, and pursue growth that is inclusive and sustainable," he added.

Prior to the Summit, the COMESA Business Forum will bring private sector champions and innovators to engage with regional policymakers on issues of trade, investment, and technology.

Host country Kenya will assume the revolving Chair of COMESA from Burundi for 2025/2026, further solidifying its leadership role in charting the direction of the bloc's policy, trade priorities, and integration agenda. It is a reflection of Kenya's increasing standing in regional and continental economic affairs.

The Summit will attract a cross section of stakeholders from government, business, civil society, and the international community, all united in backing COMESA's vision of more integration and shared prosperity.