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Heba Salama, CEO of COMESA's Regional Investment Agency (RIA), speaking during the opening of the COMESA Investment Forum held in Nairobi.
- COMESA Captures 67% of FDI Flows to Africa, doubling to hit USD 65 billion
- The COMESA Investment Map and the Investor’s Guide to Kenya were launched to enhance investor access and regional investment
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is rapidly strengthening its position on the global investment map, now accounting for approximately 67% of all foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into Africa, according to leaders speaking at the second COMESA Investment Forum 2026 held alongside the Kenya International Investment Conference 2026 this week.
Speaking at the opening of the Forum, Heba Salama, CEO of COMESA’s Regional Investment Agency (RIA), stated that FDI inflows into COMESA member states recorded a historic surge of 154% in 2024, reaching USD 65 billion,despite global economic challenges that have persisted since the beginning of the decade.
She attributed this growth to rising investor confidence and large-scale catalytic projects in the region, driving capital flows.
COMESA’s share of global FDI inflows doubled from 2% to 4%, while its share of FDI directed to developing economies increased from 3% to 7%.
As a result, the region now accounts for about 67% of total FDI inflows into Africa.Project finance in the region also witnessed notable growth, nearly doubling to USD 79 billion, while greenfield investments maintained strong performance, exceeding USD 77 billion.
Sectoral trends point to a shift in investment priorities, with construction emerging as a major growth driver, recording nearly a fivefold increase in investment.
Energy and gas supply investments have grown by 22%, while renewable energy has increased by 67%. Social sectors are also gaining traction, with health and education investments rising by 130%.
However, investment has declined in food and agriculture, as well as water and sanitation, while the transport sector continues to attract lower capital than required, highlighting areas that will need targeted policy attention and investor engagement.
On the first day of the conference, Kenya announced 20 signed deals securing investments worth over US$2.9 billion across key sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, healthcare, ICT, real estate, and energy from global and local investors.
During the CIF Forum, two key investment facilitation tools aimed at enhancing investor access to opportunities and data across the region were launched.
Kenya unveiled the Investor’s Guide to Kenya, providing comprehensive insights into the country’s investment landscape, priority sectors, and regulatory framework, while the COMESA Investment Map,a digital platform, is designed to showcase bankable projects and investment opportunities across member states.
Speaking during the CIF, the Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, Abubakar H. Abubakar, emphasized that unlocking the region’s full potential will require deliberate structural reforms.
“Market size alone is insufficient.We must dismantle non-tariff barriers, harmonize standards, streamline customs processes, and align regulatory frameworks.
We must make regional integration a lived reality, enabling investors to operate across borders as easily as within one country.
We must move decisively from exporting raw materials to producing value-added goods, from isolated production units to integrated regional value chains, and from low-productivity sectors to high-quality job creation”.
John Mwendwa, CEO of Invest Kenya, convening the forum under KIICO 2026, reinforced the shift from country-level investment promotion to a regional approach.
“Today, we are joined by 82 delegates from the 16 COMESA countries and a significant number of international investors. Picture this: a single market of 600 million people, hungry for integration.
From Kenya’s tech-savvy youth powering fintech unicorns, to Zambia’s mineral wealth, to Egypt’s manufacturing strength, to name a few.
This is not a distant vision. It is a regional engine already in motion.The conversation has evolved. It is going beyond individual country pitches to regional delivery: integrated value chains, coordinated policy environments, and joint execution.”
This was echoed by Salama, who stressed that sustaining this momentum requires focusing on key strategic priorities, including strengthening value-added productive sectors, expanding digital infrastructure, and investing in human capital through education, skills development, and healthcare.
These priorities align with COMESA’s strategy for the 2026–2030 period, which aims to deepen economic integration and promote sustainable investments across member states.
COMESA’s 21 member states have a combined GDP exceeding $1 trillion, making it one of the largest economic blocs in Africa in size and investment potential.
