Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Justin Nsengiyumva, has arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe, to represent President Paul Kagame at the 25th Summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government, where regional leaders are expected to discuss measures to boost trade, attract investment and accelerate economic integration.
The summit, scheduled for Thursday, October 22, 2026, is being held under the theme **“One Market, One Future,”** highlighting the bloc’s ambition to strengthen economic cooperation and expand opportunities for businesses across its member states.
Discussions will focus on increasing trade and investment, advancing industrial development and removing barriers that limit the movement of goods and services across the region.
Leaders are also expected to explore ways of attracting more investment into strategic sectors, including agriculture, industry and critical minerals, while developing regional value chains that enable member states to add value to their products before exporting them.
The development of these value chains is expected to support industrialisation, strengthen regional production networks and create opportunities for businesses to access wider markets within the COMESA region.
Another key item on the agenda is the launch of COMESA’s 2026–2030 strategic plan, which is expected to guide the organisation’s priorities and programmes over the next five years.
The plan comes as African countries continue efforts to deepen regional economic integration, strengthen intra-African trade and improve the competitiveness of their economies.
For Rwanda, participation in the summit provides an opportunity to engage with regional leaders on policies aimed at expanding market access, attracting investment and strengthening economic partnerships.
COMESA is a regional economic bloc established to promote trade and economic cooperation among its member states. Through initiatives targeting trade facilitation, industrial development and investment, the organisation seeks to build a more integrated and competitive regional market.
The Harare summit is expected to provide a platform for leaders to review progress towards these objectives and agree on priorities for advancing regional economic cooperation.
The summit follows several preparatory meetings, including the COMESA Green Industry Connect and the 19th COMESA Business Forum, which brought together policymakers, investors, business leaders and development partners to discuss regional industrialisation and investment opportunities.
COMESA brings together 21 member states across eastern, southern, northern and central Africa. Its agenda includes facilitating cross-border trade, strengthening infrastructure connectivity and expanding economic opportunities through regional cooperation.
The outcomes of the Harare summit are expected to shape the bloc’s priorities for the coming years, particularly efforts to build a more integrated regional market, strengthen industrial capacity and increase the economic benefits of trade among member states.