Since joining the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in 2018, Tunisia has been committed to supporting the African economic integration process and actively participating in the organization’s various programs and initiatives, Minister of Trade and Export Development Samir Abid said on Monday during the opening of the third COMESA Institutions Awareness Forum.
Abid also stressed that “global economic and geopolitical changes require stronger African economic integration and the development of regional cooperation mechanisms,” reiterating that “digital innovation is a fundamental pillar for improving the competitiveness of African trade, as it enables the digitalization of procedures, the development of digital infrastructure and the facilitation of trade exchanges.”
For her part, COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Mpondo Kapwepwe highlighted a shared determination among African countries to advance economic integration through programs focused on agricultural modernization, industrial strengthening, cross-border infrastructure development, sustainable resource use and the empowerment of women and youth.
She called for stronger partnerships between member states, the private sector, and development partners to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063 and sustainable development, noting that the digital transition is emerging as a key pillar for building successful trade foundations and achieving inclusive economic growth.
Organized as part of “COMESA Week 2026,” the event, held under the theme “Expanding Intra-African Horizons: Digital Innovation as a Catalyst for Inclusive and Sustainable COMESA Market Access,” aims to strengthen economic and trade cooperation and explore investment opportunities within the COMESA region, thereby contributing to the development of intra-African trade and regional economic integration.
COMESA currently brings together more than 655 million people, representing a combined GDP estimated at nearly $1 trillion.
