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The COMESA Council of Ministers has urged all member states to intensify efforts toward resource mobilisation to support the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The call was made by Council Chairperson, Lee Kinyajui, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Investment and Industry, during the 9th Extraordinary Meeting held virtually on April 2, 2026.
The meeting considered and adopted the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) 2026–2030 and the COMESA Strategy for the Implementation of the AfCFTA.
The MTSP 2026–2030 outlines COMESA’s development direction for the next four years, focusing on regional market consolidation, infrastructure and connectivity, productive integration, gender and youth inclusion, and improved institutional efficiency.
Kinyajui emphasised the need for sustained and coordinated efforts in mobilising adequate resources to ensure the timely implementation of both the MTSP and the AfCFTA Strategy.
He said successful execution of these frameworks is critical for increasing intra-regional trade, strengthening regional value chains, enhancing infrastructure, and promoting inclusive participation, especially for women, youth, and small-scale traders.
He added that the AfCFTA presented a significant opportunity for market expansion, industrialisation, and positioning COMESA as a key pillar of the African Economic Community.
COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe expressed appreciation to member states for their commitment to regional integration.
She said the MTSP 2026–2030 provided a clear and forward-looking framework that advanced regional transformation through deeper market integration, enhanced productive capacities, improved infrastructure, and inclusive and sustainable development.
She added that, together with the AfCFTA Implementation Strategy, the framework would accelerate the realisation of COMESA’s integration objectives and strengthen its contribution to continental goals.
The Council adopted the MTSP 2026–2030 and recommended its launch at the 25th Summit of Heads of State and Government, while also adopting the COMESA Strategy for the Implementation of the AfCFTA.
The meeting reaffirmed COMESA’s commitment to advancing regional integration and strengthening its role within Africa’s broader development agenda.
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