COMESA Investment Forum 2026 Concludes in Nairobi, Emphasizing cross-border Investment, Trade, and Partnerships
The second edition of the COMESA Investment Forum 2026 concluded in Nairobi, organized by the Regional Investment Agency (RIA) under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and held under the auspices of His Excellency President William Ruto of Kenya from 24 to 27 March. The forum witnessed high-level participation from representatives of member states, over 400 business leaders, investors, and decision-makers, alongside representatives from COMESA governments, regional and international institutions, and National Investment Promotion Agencies (NIPAs).
Held over four days, the forum served as a strategic platform to enhance dialogue between governments and the private sector, featuring a series of specialized events including Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G), the annual technical meeting of COMESA Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), and workshops aimed at sharing expertise and strengthening investment promotion and facilitation practices across COMESA Member States.
The forum witnessed the launch of the COMESA Investment Map, one of its key strategic outputs, highlighting more than 180 nationally endorsed investment opportunities across seven priority sectors, including agriculture, food industries, infrastructure, energy, supply chains, digital economy, and technological transformation. This initiative enhances investors’ ability to access clear and well-structured opportunities across the bloc.
The Investment Map serves as a practical tool to enhance transparency and provide accurate, organized data, thereby improving the quality of investment decisions and accelerating the implementation of projects, particularly intra-regional and cross-border partnerships, supporting regional economic integration and maximizing the benefits of Member States’ comparative advantages.
Through its dialogue sessions, the forum addressed several key issues, including mechanisms for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), improving the business environment, and strengthening investment governance. The forum also reviewed the 2025 COMESA Investment Report prepared by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and discussed preparations for the 2026 edition, further supporting the development of a comprehensive investment information database.
In this context, UNCTAD recommended the implementation of a set of investment policies, emphasizing that investment incentives alone are insufficient and should be part of broader policies. Recommendations include enhancing both institutional and procedural investment facilitation, developing infrastructure, building productive capacities, and making digital facilitation a core requirement to reinforce investor confidence.
UNCTAD also emphasized the need to restructure supply chains relying on local productive capacities within member states, support high-growth strategic sectors such as the digital economy and renewable energy, and expand digital facilitation tools through single-window systems and information portals, contributing to improved investment environments across COMESA countries.
COMESA Secretary-General, Ms. Chileshe Kapwepwe, stressed that the forum’s success reflects the organization’s commitment to transforming the region’s significant economic potential into tangible projects, noting that the Investment Map represents a vital step in enhancing transparency and facilitating access to investment opportunities across the regional market.
COMESA Assistant Secretary-General, Amb. Dr.. Mohamed Kadah, highlighted the pivotal role of the private sector as a key driver of economic growth, noting that bilateral meetings and specialized workshops contributed to expanding investment opportunities and fostering regional cooperation.
The CEO of the Regional Investment Agency (RIA), Mrs. Heba Salama, stated that the launch of the interactive Investment Map during the forum represents a strategic achievement, reflecting coordination among member states and enhancing the region’s readiness to receive investments. She added that the platform provides a unified interface that facilitates decision-making and supports cross-border partnerships.
At the conclusion of the forum, participants emphasized the need to continue joint efforts to strengthen economic integration within the COMESA region and to intensify efforts to stimulate quality investments, contributing to sustainable growth and job creation. The forum reaffirmed that effective collaboration between governments and the private sector is fundamental to translating economic opportunities into tangible benefits for the region’s populations.
As part of supporting the business environment, the Practical Guide to Doing Business in Kenya was launched, providing detailed information on incentives and regulatory procedures, particularly for expediting company formation, reflecting the commitment to improving the investment climate and facilitating capital flows within the region.
This year’s forum also featured notable participation from an investment delegation from China, highlighting the growing interest of international partners in COMESA’s investment opportunities. Additionally, for the first time, a large delegation from the Egyptian Junior Business Association participated, reflecting the increased interest of the Egyptian business community in expanding its presence in African markets and establishing sustainable investment partnerships across the region.
