President William Ruto has arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe, ahead of the 25th Summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government.
In a statement upon arrival on Wednesday, October 21, Ruto said the summit would focus on deepening regional integration, strengthening peace and security, accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and advancing industrialisation.
The President also said leaders would explore ways to unlock the economic potential of Africa’s natural resources through value addition, including processing raw materials locally to create higher-value products.
The summit, scheduled for Thursday, October 22, brings together leaders from COMESA’s 21 member states to review progress in regional integration and discuss strategies to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen economic cooperation.
Ruto is expected to hand over the COMESA chairmanship to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, marking the end of Kenya’s tenure at the helm of the regional bloc.
The meeting is being held under the theme, “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA.”
Leaders are also expected to consider the bloc’s Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, which will guide its priorities on regional trade, industrialisation and economic integration over the next five years.
