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Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to identify practical measures to increase regional production, processing and intra-regional trade as the bloc prepares for its 25th Heads of State and Government Summit.
Mnangagwa also emphasised the need for greater investment in agriculture, critical minerals, energy, industrialisation and human capital, building on the region’s youthful population.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the President said COMESA, as a building block of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), must strengthen its productive capacity, remove tariff and non-tariff barriers, and harmonise trade procedures.
The incoming Chairperson of the COMESA Authority made the remarks during the annual COMESA Business Forum and Exhibition, held at the Harare International Conference Centre from October 19 to 21, 2026.
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More than 400 exhibitors, including women, men and young people representing businesses ranging from micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to large corporations, showcased their products and explored market and business opportunities.
Mnangagwa toured the exhibition stands and addressed the forum, calling for greater collaboration among the 21 COMESA Member States to deepen intra-regional trade and investment.
“I challenge this forum to hold frank and bold dialogue that will help scale up intra-regional trade and investment, identify practical solutions and forge partnerships that allow businesses to produce, invest, trade and create jobs across our common market,” he said.
He challenged delegates to identify practical steps to increase regional production, processing and trade, while emphasising the importance of investing in key economic sectors.
COMESA Secretary-General, Chileshe Mpundu-Kapwepwe, highlighted the region’s progress, noting that manufacturers were increasingly sourcing inputs from other Member States under the COMESA Free Trade Area.
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