The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), in partnership with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), has convened a regional workshop with 17 member states to validate the revised COMESA Common Investment Area (CCIA) Agreement, marking a key step toward boosting intra-regional and foreign direct investment.
The two-day virtual workshop, held March 31–April 1, brought together senior government officials and technical experts to finalise the revised agreement, which is designed to promote, protect and facilitate investment across the COMESA region.
Participants also reviewed the CCIA Implementation Handbook, developed with support from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), to guide member states in adopting and applying the framework.
The revised agreement establishes clearer provisions on investor protections, state obligations, dispute resolution mechanisms, and the movement of capital and labor. Officials say the framework is expected to strengthen investor confidence, improve transparency and position the region as a competitive destination for sustainable investment.
COMESA Assistant Secretary-General for Programmes Ambassador Mohamed Kadah, who opened the workshop, said the agreement reflects the region’s commitment to economic integration and long-term development.
“This agreement reflects our shared vision for sustainable socio-economic growth and a more investment-friendly environment,” Kadah said. He also underscored the importance of strong development partnerships and called for the swift adoption and operationalization of the framework.
The revised CCIA Agreement is the result of an extensive consultative process, including multiple validation workshops, highlighting member states’ commitment to harmonized investment policies and accelerated economic development.
The agreement and its implementation handbook will now be submitted to COMESA policy organs for endorsement, followed by ratification and domestication by member states before implementation.
The COMESA Treaty, under Chapter 26, encourages increased private sector investment across the region. COMESA heads of state previously agreed to establish a Common Investment Area, leading to the adoption of the CCIA framework to enhance the region’s competitiveness and attract cross-border and foreign direct investment.
