Kenya has welcomed leaders from across Eastern and Southern Africa to the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit of Heads of State at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
President William Ruto, hosting the event, hailed the bloc's enduring legacy while urging a bold pivot toward digital innovation to propel the continent's next era of growth.
COMESA, founded in 1994, has evolved into a powerhouse of economic integration, linking 21 member states with a combined population exceeding 600 million and a GDP surpassing $1.2 trillion.
"We celebrate 30 years of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a transformative regional bloc that has powered integration across our region," Ruto declared in a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter.
He reflected on the organization's "journey of resilience and partnership, which has expanded markets, created opportunities, and strengthened our unity in confronting challenges" – from trade barriers to global pandemics.
The summit, themed around accelerating intra-African trade, drew high-level delegations amid heightened optimism for Agenda 2063 goals. Yet, Ruto emphasized that true transformation lies in harnessing technology.
"At the 24th COMESA Summit of Heads of State, we will deliberate on the need to drive change to shape the next phase of Africa’s transformation through digital technology," he posted, spotlighting priorities like e-commerce platforms, AI-driven agriculture, and cross-border fintech solutions.
Experts note that digital adoption could boost COMESA's trade volume by 30% within five years, addressing youth unemployment and supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by recent climate shocks.
The proceedings kicked off with an intimate leaders' dinner at State House Nairobi on Wednesday evening.
Ruto personally hosted a constellation of dignitaries, including Comoros President Azali Assoumani and Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Prime Ministers Russell Mmiso Dlamini of Eswatini and Egypt's Mustafa Madbouly – attending in a dual capacity – joined the table, alongside African Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Youssouf and COMESA Secretary-General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe.
In animated exchanges captured via live broadcasts, Assoumani praised Kenya's stewardship, calling it a "beacon of stability," while Mnangagwa advocated for mineral value chains in the digital age.
Dlamini highlighted small-state perspectives on tech equity, and Madbouly outlined Egypt's Nile fintech initiatives.
Youssouf and Kapwepwe underscored the summit's alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), urging streamlined digital tariffs.
As plenary sessions unfold today, expectations run high for breakthroughs on a COMESA Digital Strategy Framework, potentially including a $500 million innovation fund.
Ruto's vision resonates amid Africa's burgeoning tech ecosystem – think M-Pesa's global ripple or Rwanda's drone deliveries – positioning the region as a counterweight to geopolitical flux.
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