The forum is expected to draw more than 400 participants, including government officials, business leaders, and investors from 17 COMESA member states.
The event is being held under the patronage of Kenyan President William Ruto and organized by the COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA) in coordination with Kenya’s Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, and the Kenya Investment Authority (Invest Kenya).
Regional and international organizations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), are expected to take part, alongside investors and business groups from several countries, including Egypt and Tunisia.
The Egyptian Junior Business Association (EJB), several development banks, and private investment funds will be in attendance.
Discussions will focus on boosting foreign direct investment (FDI), advancing trade liberalization, and improving the investment climate across COMESA countries, with an emphasis on regional value chains and cross-border projects.
A dedicated session will examine ways to increase intra-COMESA industrial exports to 25 percent by 2026 and expand access to markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Participants will also discuss strengthening the COMESA Common Investment Area (CCIA) as a framework for regional investment.
Heba Salama, Chief Executive Officer of the COMESA RIA, said the forum comes at a time when the bloc is seeking to position itself as a standalone investment destination. She said the priority is to channel investment into sectors that create jobs and support industrial growth.
She added that COMESA is the largest regional economic bloc in Africa, comprising 21 member states with a combined population exceeding 700 million people and a total GDP of more than $1 trillion.
Salama explained that the forum is designed to drive practical outcomes by connecting decision-makers, investors, and business leaders around a shared agenda, and that the priority is not only to attract more capital but to channel investment into the sectors that can create jobs, strengthen resilience, and turn the region’s economic potential into tangible results.
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