NAIROBI, Kenya- President William Ruto has arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe, ahead of the 25th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government Summit, where regional leaders are expected to discuss trade, industrialisation, security and economic integration.
The main summit is scheduled for Thursday, October 22.
Ruto said the talks would focus on deepening regional integration, strengthening peace and security, accelerating implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), advancing industrialisation and adding value to Africa’s natural resources.
The meeting is being held under the theme “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA.”
The COMESA Secretariat says heads of state and government will review progress on regional integration, consider recommendations from the Council of Ministers and set the bloc’s strategic direction.
Ruto is expected to hand over the COMESA chairmanship to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The summit’s official website identifies Ruto as the current chair of the COMESA Authority and Mnangagwa as his successor.
Trade and industrialisation on agenda
The leaders’ discussions follow a series of meetings and events held in Harare earlier this week.
These included a business forum, a green industry event and a meeting of foreign affairs ministers.
The ministers were expected to consider regional cooperation, peace, security and governance ahead of the heads of state meeting.
The summit is also expected to launch the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2030.
The plan will set priorities for the next five years, including expanding trade within the bloc, improving infrastructure links, supporting industrialisation and value addition, and advancing digital transformation.
The 2025 COMESA Annual Report is also due to be presented. It will provide leaders with an update on the organisation’s programmes, progress and challenges.
COMESA has 21 member states and works to promote regional integration through trade, investment and infrastructure development.
Its Heads of State and Government Summit is the bloc’s highest policy organ, responsible for setting its general direction.
Ruto’s agenda includes implementation of the AfCFTA, which seeks to create a single market for goods and services across Africa.
At the Harare meeting, leaders are expected to consider how regional cooperation and investment can support trade and production across COMESA states.
His call to add value to Africa’s natural resources points to a shift towards processing more raw materials within the continent.
The summit’s published agenda includes discussions on industrialisation and regional value chains in sectors including critical minerals, agriculture and manufacturing.
The summit will conclude the four-day programme of COMESA meetings in Harare, which began on October 19.
Its decisions and recommendations will guide the bloc’s work on trade, investment and regional cooperation in the coming years.
