Harare to open COMESA business programme ahead of Thursday summit

Harare is scheduled to open a week of COMESA meetings on Monday with green-industry discussions and a regional exhibition, ahead of a leaders' summit on Thursday, 22 October.

The programme brings business representatives and policymakers together around investment, production and trade across the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. Today's events precede the main political meeting rather than marking the start of the Heads of State session itself.

COMESA's official schedule places Green Industry Connect on 19 October and a multisectoral exhibition from 19 to 21 October. The business forum's high-level dialogue follows on Tuesday, with foreign ministers meeting on Wednesday.

The business activities are scheduled for the Harare International Conference Centre. The wider programme gives Zimbabwean firms an opportunity to present products and discuss partnerships with participants from the region.

Production and investment on the agenda

Green Industry Connect will consider circular-economy opportunities in sectors including leather and textiles, plastics and packaging, and electronics and electronic waste, according to the Secretariat's programme.

Tuesday's business discussions will address regional value chains, financing, digital transformation and industrial competitiveness. Recommendations are expected to feed into a private-sector communiqué for the leaders' meeting.

The COMESA Business Council describes the exhibition as a platform for products, services, technologies and investment opportunities. Its published programme also provides for side sessions alongside the main business engagements.

For a participating company, exhibiting and securing an order are different stages. The meetings provide access to potential partners; the outcome will depend on follow-up negotiations, financing and the requirements of the market concerned.

Leaders meet on Thursday

The 25th Heads of State and Government Summit is scheduled for 22 October under the theme of inclusive industrialisation, investment and regional integration.

The official agenda includes the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2026–2030 and presentation of the organisation's 2025 annual report. Leaders are also expected to consider recommendations from the ministerial and business meetings.

Zimbabwe's role as host places its trade and investment priorities before a regional audience. Agriculture, manufacturing and mineral value chains are among the sectors identified in the summit's published outline.

The schedule remains a programme of planned engagements. Decisions, signed agreements and investment commitments should be reported once announced, rather than treated as outcomes already secured.

Monday's opening therefore begins the business discussions. The substantive test will be what participants agree to pursue after the exhibition stands and meeting rooms close.