Day 2 of the 18th COMESA Business Forum in Nairobi cut straight to the heart of Africa’s regional integration agenda. The tone was pragmatic and private-sector-driven; a collective call to digitalize trade, modernize agriculture, and unlock new capital pathways for businesses operating within the 21-member bloc.
Panel 1: Boosting Agricultural Productivity Through Smart Agriculture
Agriculture remains the backbone of the COMESA region, yet productivity per unit area continues to lag. Panelists underscored the urgency of adopting climate-smart agriculture, improved seed systems, and regional harmonization of input standards.
Speakers from the East African Farmers Federation and ACTESA called for an interconnected agricultural ecosystem; one that links farmers, cooperatives, and markets through digital systems. Kenya’s digitalization strategy to onboard 1.5 million farmers by 2027 was cited as a milestone.
One of the day’s strongest takeaways was the introduction of the Digital Warehouse Receipt System, a blockchain-based platform allowing farmers to use digital receipts as collateral for credit. The model directly addresses financing gaps and post-harvest losses, which currently stand between 30–40% across the region.
Discussions also spotlighted the power of multi-country cooperatives, the need for regulatory harmonization of digital warehouses, and the use of data repositories to guide policy interventions. Panelists agreed that agriculture doesn’t need new declarations; it needs bold partnerships, tax incentives for agri-tech startups, and policies that reward innovation and efficiency.
Panel 2: Breaking Barriers – Digitalization of Trade and Promotion of Investment
This session turned the spotlight on trade systems. Panelists examined how digital platforms can simplify transactions, reduce processing time, and build real-time visibility into trade flows.
The issue of market intelligence surfaced as a persistent gap. Businesses often lack the data to make informed regional expansion decisions. Emerging systems that shorten transaction turnaround times and streamline payment verification were presented as key solutions.
Panelists called for data-sharing frameworks and interoperability among customs, financial, and logistics systems to make trade frictionless. The consensus: digitalization is now infrastructure, not aspiration.
The conversation linked strongly to ongoing regional frameworks, including the COMESA Digital Free Trade Area (DFTA), Trade Facilitation Programme, and alignment with AfCFTA protocols. Together, these policies aim to modernize border procedures and attract investment through predictable, digitally enabled trade regimes.
Panel 3: Enhanced Trade through Digital Transformation – Logistics, Transport, and Mobility
The conversation moved from systems to movement. The COMESA Yellow Card Scheme, which provides third-party motor vehicle insurance across 13 countries, was spotlighted as a model for how digital policy can drive efficiency.
Participants discussed integrating insurance, freight, and customs procedures into single-window systems that allow borderless visibility. Rwanda’s car tracking framework was cited as a practical example.
Panelists urged member states to operationalize three key frameworks in tandem: the AfCFTA; Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM); and the Free Movement Protocol to reduce regional travel costs, promote business mobility, and facilitate investment.
One message echoed across the room: digital transformation must not become a new form of bureaucracy. It must cut costs, not raise them.
Panel 4: Competition, Mergers, and Institutional Innovation
Competition law took center stage in the afternoon as the COMESA Competition Commission (CCC) unpacked its growing role in shaping fair and transparent markets.
The CCC revealed two major metrics:
497 mergers were reviewed, including 194 in the past three years, representing over USD 110 billion in transaction value across aviation, mining, insurance, banking, and agriculture.
Consumer protection interventions, including actions on digital platform policies such as Uber’s terms and conditions, to ensure regional applicability of consumer laws.
Panelists called for reduced compliance layers and the creation of one-stop-shop regulatory models between regional and national authorities. The message for private investors was clear: deal structuring and competition compliance now define successful cross-border growth strategies.
The African Trade and Development Insurance (ATIDI) also presented its risk mitigation portfolio of over USD 82 billion in insured investments, supporting projects such as Rwanda’s Bugesera Airport and Burundi’s power generation expansion.
From Declarations to Delivery
The day concluded with James Chimwaza, President of the COMESA Business Council (CBC) presenting the COMESA Business Draft Declaration 2025. The declaration outlined private sector commitments to deepen regional value chains, fast-track digital trade policies, and strengthen collaboration with member states.
Dr. Dev Haman, COMESA’s Assistant Secretary General, anchored the closing remarks in data:
“COMESA is a market of 682 million people, a GDP of over USD 1.1 trillion, and an area of 12 million square kilometers. Imagine the potential — if we remove the bottlenecks.”
He urged governments to reduce over-regulation and empower the private sector to drive the next phase of integration through innovation and investment.
What This Means for the Private Sector
For the private sector, the conversations at the COMESA Business Forum signal a season of strategic opportunity. The digital and policy shifts discussed open up new spaces for innovation, investment, and partnership across key sectors.
1. Agri-tech and Digital Finance Convergence.
The momentum around digital warehouse systems and smart agriculture points to an untapped space for startups, banks, and insurers to build interoperable solutions for smallholder financing, traceability, and crop insurance. There’s room for private sector consortia to pilot data-driven lending models, blockchain-based tracking, and climate risk analytics.
2. Expansion of Digital Trade Infrastructure.
As COMESA members push for seamless cross-border systems, opportunities arise for logistics firms, customs tech providers, and cybersecurity companies to power this transition. The private sector can shape the backbone of digital trade by developing interoperable payment systems, providing compliance automation and identity verification services.
3. Expanding Through M&A in COMESA Markets
COMESA’s Competition Commission provides private companies with the clarity and predictability needed to pursue cross-border expansion, mergers, and acquisitions across the 21-member bloc. With well-defined approval thresholds and oversight, businesses can strategically enter new markets, consolidate operations, and scale with confidence in sectors such as banking, agriculture, aviation, and insurance. At the same time, consumer protection rules, including for digital platforms, encourage transparency and fairness, allowing compliant companies to build trust and a competitive edge
4. Regional Integration as a Business Strategy.
Harmonization between COMESA, SADC, and AfCFTA frameworks means that private firms can now plan for regional expansion with fewer regulatory barriers. This opens doors for private-public partnerships in trade facilitation, logistics hubs, and industrial value chains.
5. Technology-Driven Policy Implementation.
Policy alone won’t deliver the digital economy. Execution will rely on private innovation. There’s a clear opportunity for tech firms, consultancies, and industry associations to co-develop pilots, proof-of-concept projects, and compliance tools aligned with regional digital transformation agendas.
Where We Come In
At Valarie Waswa & Company Advocates, we help businesses navigate the legal and regulatory frameworks that shape cross-border trade, investment, and digital transformation across the COMESA region. Our work sits at the intersection of law, technology, and market entry, enabling clients to act on new opportunities while staying fully compliant.
We support:
Market Expansion & Compliance: guiding companies through COMESA competition filings, investment approvals, and cross-border regulatory compliance.
Digital Economy Transactions: advising on data protection, fintech licensing, and blockchain-enabled trade infrastructure.
Mergers & Acquisitions: structuring regional deals and ensuring compliance with COMESA Competition Commission thresholds and notification requirements.
Corporate Advisory: aligning business operations with regional integration goals, trade facilitation instruments, and sustainability frameworks.
We understand that regional integration is more than a policy ambition; t’s a business strategy. Our role is to make sure you move with clarity, confidence, and legal foresight in a rapidly transforming market.
About the Author
Valarie Waswa is a lawyer by profession, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and East Africa by extension, and the Founding Partner of Valarie Waswa & Co. Advocates