NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 19 – Digitization and cross-border trade will dominate discussions when leaders from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) gather in Nairobi for the bloc’s 24th summit in November.
The three-day summit, set for November 7–9, is expected to chart strategies for deeper regional integration, with emphasis on building stronger value chains, easing trade flows, and driving sustainable economic growth.
COMESA Assistant Secretary General Dev Haman said the focus will be on unlocking trade and investment opportunities that can generate jobs and raise living standards across the region.
Kenya’s Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui noted that digital tools are critical for boosting competitiveness, particularly in cross-border trade and SME development. “Africa needs digitization to deepen value chains and bolster sustainable growth,” he said, pointing to Kenya’s mobile money and fintech ecosystem as proof of how innovation drives inclusion.
The summit’s theme, “Leveraging Digitalisation to Deepen Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth,” ties into Kenya’s push to expand Special Economic Zones and move from raw exports to processed goods.
It will also address persistent barriers, including non-tariff restrictions, that hinder intra-regional trade despite the establishment of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area.
The Nairobi meeting comes as regional blocs face pressure to accelerate integration and shield economies from global shocks, with leaders expected to call for stronger political will to ensure agreements translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
