Ruto hands over COMESA chairmanship as bloc targets 15 per cent intra-trade by 2030

Ruto hands over COMESA chairmanship as bloc targets 15 per cent intra-trade by 2030

Ruto called on member states to remove non-tariff barriers, deepen trade liberalisation, digitise regional commerce and improve transport, digital and energy connectivity to lower the cost of doing business across borders.

President William Ruto has officially handed over the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The handover took place during the 25th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government in Harare on Thursday, October 22, marking the transfer of leadership of the regional economic bloc for the 2026-2027 term.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema was named vice-chairperson of the new COMESA Bureau, while Ruto will continue serving as rapporteur.

In his address to the summit, Ruto congratulated Mnangagwa on his election and pledged to support the new chairperson as the bloc pursues deeper economic integration.

“Mr Chairperson, you have my support, my counsel, and my full commitment,” Ruto said.

During the summit, Ruto launched the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan 2026-2030 alongside the bloc's 2025 Annual Report, outlining priorities for deeper economic integration, industrialisation and sustainable development.

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“It is my distinct honour to launch two documents today: The COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan 2026-2030, and the 2025 Annual Report. One tells us where we are going. The other tells us where we stand,” Ruto said.

The new strategic plan targets increasing intra-COMESA trade to 15 per cent of the bloc's total trade by 2030. COMESA comprises 21 member states with nearly 700 million people and a combined gross domestic product of more than $1 trillion (Sh130 trillion).

“Our common market is home to nearly 700 million people, with a combined GDP of more than $1 trillion. Yet we still trade far more with the rest of the world than with one another,” Ruto said.

He called on member states to remove non-tariff barriers, deepen trade liberalisation, digitise regional commerce and improve transport, digital and energy connectivity to lower the cost of doing business across borders.

The outgoing chairperson further outlined five priorities for member states: fully implementing the COMESA Free Trade Area, adopting the COMESA Business Visa or ratifying the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, connecting national payment systems to regional platforms, resolving reported trade barriers and paying financial contributions to the bloc in full and on time.

Under Mnangagwa's leadership, COMESA is expected to continue efforts to strengthen economic cooperation, expand intra-African trade and improve the competitiveness of member economies.

The bloc brings together 21 member states and seeks to promote trade, reduce barriers to commerce, encourage investment and coordinate economic policies in support of regional integration.

However, challenges such as non-tariff barriers, high transport costs, lengthy border procedures and differences in national regulations continue to hinder the movement of goods across the region.