Nairobi COMESA Summit Positions Digital Trade as Key to Unlocking Africa’s Economic Potential

The 24th COMESA Heads of State Summit, convening in Nairobi from October 7-9, is being widely viewed as a potential watershed moment for intra-African commerce.

Against a backdrop of changing global geopolitics and volatile external markets, the summit’s theme, “Leveraging Digitalization to Deepen Value Chains,” moves from conceptual ambition to urgent strategy.

The gathering represents a concerted push to strengthen the continent’s internal trade pathways as a buffer against worldwide economic instability.

The timing of this strategic pivot is critical. Recent COMESA data reveals a telling story of progress paired with immense untapped potential. Since the establishment of its Free Trade Area, intra-regional trade has grown at a respectable average of 7 percent annually.

However, this growth starts from a profoundly low base. In 2023, a meager 9.4 percent of COMESA’s total exports were destined for fellow member states, with the overwhelming majority of the bloc’s goods still flowing to markets outside Africa. This continued reliance on external demand underscores a significant vulnerability and a massive opportunity for internal economic reinforcement.

Kenya, assuming the COMESA chairmanship during the summit, is championing a practical, technology-driven agenda. Cabinet Secretary for Trade Lee Kinyanjui has framed the meeting as a platform for tangible action, not just dialogue.

“With external trade regimes under strain, we must lean more on regional mechanisms and technology to bridge our markets,” Kinyanjui stated.

He emphasized that the summit will focus on scaling specific digital tools—including electronic certificates of origin, interoperable payment systems, and automated smart borders—to dismantle the bureaucratic and logistical barriers that currently fragment the regional market.

The success of the Nairobi summit will be measured by the adoption of binding commitments. Member states are expected to agree on a clear timetable for deploying electronic Certificates of Origin, establish common frameworks for interoperable digital payments, and commit to smart border procedures that combine trade facilitation with anti-corruption safeguards.

For Kenya, hosting this pivotal event dovetails with its broader Vision 2030 goals of industrialization and job creation. For the continent, a successful outcome in Nairobi would mark a decisive step toward a more integrated, self-reliant, and resilient economic future, where digital integration provides the foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth.