Nairobi: 15 Egyptian companies are actively participating in the COMESA Investment Forum hosted by the COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA) in Nairobi, Kenya. This expanded forum convenes influential business figures, investors, private sector representatives, ambassadors, and diplomats from member states alongside the second edition of the COMESA Investment Forum 2026.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the event is held under the patronage of Kenyan President William Ruto. The Egyptian delegation includes 18 senior business leaders representing 15 companies, all members of the Egyptian Young Businessmen Association, and spans strategic economic sectors.
Attendees from Zambia, Comoros, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, along with Kenyan business community representatives, underscore the growing significance of the private sector in driving regional economic development. The sectors represented at the forum include agriculture, food industries, chemicals and petrochemicals, fertilizers, textiles, construction, infrastructure, energy and renewable energy, trade and distribution, import-export, information and communication technology, digital services, automotive, and legal services. This spectrum highlights the extensive production base and the array of investment opportunities available across COMESA member states.
The forum's objective is to create a platform for direct engagement between the business community and private sector, with a focus on enhancing intra-regional trade, expanding investment opportunities, implementing projects, establishing joint ventures, and opening new markets. Bilateral meetings were organized to foster strategic partnerships, develop regional value chains, and maximize opportunities within African markets.
Heba Salama, CEO of RIA, emphasized the forum's role as a pivotal shift in the private sector's participation as a strategic partner in achieving regional economic integration. She noted the transition from merely promoting opportunities to activating cross-border investment partnerships, which contribute to more integrated and globally competitive regional value chains.
Salama further discussed the forum's exploration of ways to empower investors by creating a transparent, efficient, and data-driven investment environment. She highlighted that COMESA's evidence-based economic and investment policies are designed to accelerate structural reforms, enhance member states' competitiveness, support sustainable growth, and strengthen the bloc's position as a leading emerging investment destination in Africa. The forum also reinforced the importance of cooperation among COMESA business communities in driving regional economic growth, fostering an innovation-driven investment climate, facilitating trade, and enhancing the private sector's role in leading development toward more inclusive and sustainable economic integration.
Mohamed Abu Basha, Chairman of the Egyptian Young Businessmen Association, remarked that the Egyptian delegation, the largest among participating countries, reflects the sector's commitment to expanding into African markets and leveraging opportunities across COMESA, especially in productive sectors and infrastructure. He acknowledged that regional integration provides a solid foundation for growth, with sustainable partnerships creating added value for African economies.