Preparations for the development of COMESA’s 2026–2030 Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) have commenced with a two-day retreat for management and technical staff in Lusaka, held on March 24–25, 2025.
The retreat’s agenda focused on reviewing the performance of the current 2021–2025 MTSP, identifying successes, challenges, and key lessons to inform the next five-year plan.
Leading the discussions, COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe emphasized the need for excellence in all aspects of the regional bloc’s operations. She highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement in implementing regional integration programs.
“This exercise is not just another retreat—it is a defining moment in COMESA’s journey. We are dedicating time to discuss and agree on key milestones that will shape our policies, instruments, programs, and activities for the next five years. Our goal is to positively impact more than 670 million people in our region,” Ms. Kapwepwe stated.
She underscored COMESA’s strategy of fostering regional integration through trade, investment, agriculture, social development, physical infrastructure, and connectivity. Reflecting on the organization’s three decades of existence, she acknowledged the economic challenges Member States have faced—including debt, rising inflation, and increasing living costs—stressing the need for an effective strategic plan.
Despite these challenges, the Secretary General noted that the region has shown resilience, recovering from the effects of COVID-19, climate change, and geopolitical tensions. By the end of 2025, the region is projected to register an average GDP growth rate of 5.6%.
Assistant Secretaries General for Programmes and Administration & Finance, Amb. Dr. Mohamed Kadah and Dr. Dev Haman, also addressed the retreat. Dr. Kadah emphasized the need for organizational efficiency, innovation, and effective communication to showcase COMESA’s achievements. Meanwhile, Dr. Haman highlighted the importance of prudent resource management and ensuring sustainability beyond donor support.
The management team acknowledged the crucial role of COMESA’s development partners, including the European Union, the African Development Bank, and the World Bank, in supporting various regional programs over the years.
Through successive MTSPs, COMESA has achieved significant milestones, including establishing Africa’s largest Free Trade Area, implementing a Simplified Trade Regime, automating border posts through the ASYCUDA system, and eliminating most Non-Tariff Barriers to enhance intra-regional trade. Additionally, COMESA’s institutions continue to play a vital role in deepening regional trade and improving the livelihoods of citizens across its 21 Member States.