Zimbabwe’s capital is hosting a series of business activities ahead of the 25th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government Summit, with trade, investment and industrial development expected to feature prominently.
The Green Industry Connect and a three-day Multi-Sectoral International Exhibition begin in Harare today, bringing business and investment activities into focus ahead of Thursday’s summit, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to assume the COMESA chairmanship.
The events provide an opportunity for businesses to showcase their products, engage potential investors and explore new markets across the regional bloc.
The Green Industry Connect is expected to highlight opportunities in sustainable industrial development, including environmentally friendly production methods and technologies that can improve efficiency while reducing environmental damage.
The international exhibition, meanwhile, will bring together companies from different sectors to display their products and services, exchange ideas and establish business contacts. For local companies, the platform offers an opportunity to attract investment and build partnerships that could support expansion into regional markets.
The business engagements come as Zimbabwe and other regional economies seek to increase intra-African trade and strengthen local industries. Greater cooperation among COMESA members could help businesses reach more customers, improve supply chains and reduce reliance on imports from outside the region.
However, businesses continue to face challenges such as high transport costs, border delays, limited access to finance and regulatory differences. Addressing these barriers will be important if regional trade initiatives are to deliver tangible benefits for companies and consumers.
Zimbabwe’s expected assumption of the COMESA chairmanship could provide an opportunity to push for stronger trade cooperation, industrial growth and investment across member states.
The focus will be on turning discussions and business contacts into practical outcomes, including new commercial partnerships, expanded market access and investment in productive sectors.
As the summit approaches, the exhibitions and related engagements are expected to set the stage for discussions on how regional cooperation can translate into stronger business activity and sustainable economic growth.
