Chief Executive Officers and their representatives from institutions of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the 2nd Awareness Forum meant to raise publicity and visibility about their operations to local stakeholders and partners.
The two-day event has attracted delegates drawn from the government, private sector organizations, Export Promotion Agencies, multilateral development partners, women entrepreneurs, the youth, small and medium-sized enterprises, higher learning institutions, and the media.
Anchored on the theme: ‘Accelerating Regional Integration through the Development of Regional Value Chains in Climate Resilient Agriculture, Mining, and Tourism,’ the event has been described as both timely and profoundly relevant, capturing the urgency for the region to embrace resilience, innovation, and sustainable industrial development amidst a rapidly evolving global landscape.
The COMESA Week was officially opened by H.E. Kassahun Gofe Balami (PhD), Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Ethiopia, who welcomed the initiative and said the focus of the deliberations directly aligns with Ethiopia’s ongoing commitment to economic diversification and resilience, ensuring continued progress across key sectors.
He mentioned the Green Legacy Initiative, which is a flagship reforestation programme that has planted over 40 billion trees, increasing forest coverage to 23.6%, the national wheat initiatives, and the YeLemat Trufat as some of the key programmes that the government is implementing.
“Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and emerging eco-tourism opportunities position it as a premier destination for both the COMESA region and global visitors. Addis Ababa’s transformation through urban renewal and beautification projects has significantly enhanced the city’s appeal, expanded attractions, and improved infrastructure,” Minister Balami said.
Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe said the event reflected the region’s collective recognition that Africa’s sustainable development hinges upon building resilient, competitive, and inclusive value chains across key sectors that are central to our economies and livelihoods.
It builds on the momentum established during the inaugural COMESA Institutions Awareness Forum held in Mauritius in April 2024, which succeeded in increasing institutional visibility, enhanced collaboration between COMESA institutions and national stakeholders, and promoted the uptake of COMESA instruments by the private sector.
“The second Forum seeks to deepen this engagement and deliver an even more profound impact by advancing the strategic pillars of the COMESA Mid-Term Strategic Plan, especially in fostering integration, industrial development, trade expansion, and resilience,” she stated.
Through these awareness events, the 21-Member trade bloc aims to ensure that stakeholders across the region are not only aware of the services and instruments offered by its institutions, but are actively engaged in co-creating solutions, tapping into available resources, and contributing to the regional economic architecture.
The delegates were informed that through an integrated approach encompassing trade facilitation, investment promotion, risk mitigation services, infrastructure modernization, digital financial inclusion, value addition in leather and textiles, and the economic empowerment of women and youth, COMESA Institutions continue to redefine and shape the future trajectory of the regional integration agenda.
The SG added that the growth of Ethiopia’s leather industry is another shining example of transformation—built on strong policy direction, private sector development, and support to SMEs through targeted interventions.
Ms. Maureen Sumbwe of the COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) also addressed the event and called on Member States to do more in addressing the various challenges that women entrepreneurs face.
A central highlight of this year’s COMESA Week is the COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) 6th Trade Fair, which has convened over 300 women entrepreneurs from 21 African countries. These women-led businesses are engaging in business-to-business sessions, forging export-ready partnerships, and participating in trade deals projected to generate over USD 2 million in intra-African trade transactions.