As preparations intensify for the 23rd COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government in Bujumbura, Burundi, scheduled for October 31, 2024, Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives from COMESA member states based in Lusaka have been updated on the event’s progress.

On September 27, 2024, COMESA Secretary General, Chileshe Kapwepwe, briefed the diplomats on key highlights of the summit and urged them to liaise with their respective capitals to confirm attendance. Their participation will be crucial to ensuring the success of the summit and its associated activities.

The briefing also covered plans for celebrating the 30th anniversary of COMESA’s transformation from the Preferential Trade Area (PTA) in 1994. To mark this milestone, the COMESA Secretariat has planned a series of events, including sports tournaments and corporate social responsibility initiatives, culminating in a gala dinner on November 27, 2024.

The summit will witness the transfer of leadership from Zambia’s President, Hakainde Hichilema, to Burundi’s President, Evariste Ndayishimiye. This transition will also form a new Bureau, comprising Burundi, Eswatini, and Zambia.

The theme for this year’s summit is “Accelerating Regional Integration through the Development of Regional Value Chains in Climate Resilient Agriculture, Mining, and Tourism”. In addition to the leadership handover, the summit will focus on strengthening regional cooperation and development. Discussions will address decisions made during the 44th Meeting of the Council of Ministers, assess resolutions on peace and security, and review the progress of COMESA’s Mid-Term Strategic Plan for 2021-2025.

Key regional issues, such as the conflicts in Libya, Sudan, and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as terrorism and the impacts of climate change, will be at the forefront of discussions. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs will explore strategies to strengthen COMESA’s peace and security initiatives, with a focus on conflict prevention and involving civil society.

The summit will also host the 17th COMESA Business Forum, a high-level platform bringing together public and private sector stakeholders to discuss solutions for driving economic growth and investment across member states. The forum aims to promote intra-African trade, establish cross-border value chains, and foster discussions among policymakers, experts, and industrialists to position the region as a competitive player in global trade.

“This forum will promote intra-African trade, establish cross-border value chains, and facilitate discussions among experts, policymakers, and industrialists, ultimately aiming to transform the region into a competitive player in global trade,” emphasized Kapwepwe.

A key focus of the forum will be on enhancing value chains in agriculture, mining, and tourism. High-level ministerial discussions and expert panels will feature representatives from COMESA institutions, including the Trade and Development Bank, ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company), the African Leather and Leather Products Institute, and the COMESA Federation of Women in Business. These sessions will explore strategies and support mechanisms for fostering regional business growth.

Recommendations from the forum will form the COMESA Business Declaration, which will be presented at the Summit. Running parallel to the business forum will be a COMESA trade exhibition, showcasing high-quality African products and services. This exhibition will offer global traders and service providers a platform to learn, sample, source, and purchase African goods.