Farai Mabeza
Zimbabwean businesses will have an opportunity to engage regional financiers, investors and buyers directly when the 19th COMESA Business Forum and Multi-Sectoral International Exhibition is held in Harare from October 19 to 21.
The three-day event, being held on the margins of the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit, is expected to bring together businesses, financial institutions, development partners and government representatives from across the region.
ZimTrade, which is convening the forum with the COMESA Business Council and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, said the gathering would provide local exporters with an opportunity to engage a regional market of more than 640 million people.
“For local exporters, the three-day programme also provides an opportunity to meet regional financiers, development institutions and Government representatives in one place, reducing the need to approach individual markets separately,” ZimTrade said.
Access to finance will be a major focus of the forum, alongside measures to increase intra-COMESA trade and investment, improve market access and strengthen regional value chains.
A dedicated session will provide information on financing and related instruments available to the private sector through regional institutions including the Trade and Development Bank and Afreximbank. Discussions will also examine mechanisms for reducing investment risks.
The forum will be held under the theme, “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialization, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA.”
ZimTrade said structured business-to-business, business-to-government and investor engagements would give participating companies an opportunity to pursue partnerships and explore potential transactions.
The programme will also address non-tariff barriers, trade corridors, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, while encouraging businesses to increase value addition and participate in regional value chains.
Running alongside the forum will be a Multi-Sectoral International Exhibition featuring sectors including manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, mining, energy, financial services, tourism, textiles, leather and the digital economy.
The forum will also produce a Private Sector Communiqué containing recommendations for presentation to the COMESA Summit, giving businesses a direct opportunity to contribute to regional policy discussions on trade, investment and industrial development.
