Mbabane- The Council of Ministers of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has approved a new five-year roadmap aimed at deepening regional integration and unlocking trade opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
During a virtual meeting held on April 2, 2026, ministers adopted the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) 2026–2030, alongside a dedicated strategy to guide member states in implementing the AfCFTA.
The MTSP outlines a comprehensive framework built on five key pillars: strengthening the regional market, improving infrastructure and connectivity, promoting productive integration, advancing gender and youth inclusion, and enhancing institutional efficiency within the COMESA Secretariat.
These focus areas are expected to accelerate trade flows and support economic transformation across the bloc, which comprises 21 member states.
Chairperson of the Council, Lee Kinyajui, emphasised that implementation will be critical to achieving meaningful results.
“The successful execution of the MTSP and the AfCFTA Strategy will be key to boosting intra-regional trade, strengthening value chains, and enhancing infrastructure,” he said. “It will also ensure more inclusive participation, particularly for women, youth and small-scale traders.”
Kinyajui noted that the AfCFTA presents a significant opportunity for COMESA countries to expand market access and accelerate industrialisation, positioning the bloc as a central pillar within Africa’s broader economic integration agenda.
Meanwhile, COMESA Secretary General, Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, described the newly adopted frameworks as forward-looking tools designed to drive sustainable development.
“The MTSP provides a clear pathway for advancing regional transformation through deeper market integration, improved infrastructure, and stronger productive capacity,” she said. “Together with the AfCFTA Implementation Strategy, it will fast-track COMESA’s contribution to the continental agenda.”
The Council further recommended that the MTSP 2026–2030 be officially launched at the upcoming 25th Summit of Heads of State and Government. However, ministers acknowledged that the success of both frameworks will depend heavily on resource mobilisation
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