COMESA Business Council

19/05/2026

How can we tackle food loss and waste while building more resilient and sustainable food systems across Africa and the Middle East?

From advancing packaging standards to scaling cold chain infrastructure and leveraging digital innovation, the Global Summit 2026 will bring together governments, industry leaders, and experts for high-level discussions and practical sessions focused on scalable solutions.

Join the Summit in Cairo,Egypt to explore strategies that reduce food loss and waste, improve efficiency across the value chain, and strengthen food system resilience.

Date: 2-4th June 2026
Location: Cairo, Egypt🇪🇬

👉 Register here to be part of the conversation: https://lnkd.in/dE-rKJa4

UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization

07/05/2026

♻️ New Position Paper Released | Circular Economy & Environment Workgroup

We have published a new position paper themed "Private Sector–Driven Circular Economy Solutions: Promoting a Sustainable Plastics Value Chain in the COMESA Region"

Key highlights from the paper include:
• The role of the private sector in driving circular economy innovation and investment
• Policy and regulatory reforms needed to strengthen plastics value chains
• Opportunities for recycling, reuse, eco-design, and sustainable production
• Challenges affecting MSMEs and waste actors in the circular economy ecosystem
• Recommendations to support regional cooperation, green industrialisation, and sustainable trade.

The paper further emphasizes the importance of partnerships between governments, industry, development partners, and communities in accelerating the transition towards sustainable production and consumption systems in the COMESA region.

📘 Read the full Position Paper here: https://lnkd.in/drj943mx

29/04/2026

Our latest edition of the BizNet Newsletter is now out.

This issue brings together key insights and developments shaping the COMESA region’s growth trajectory:

🔹 How mining and energy sectors are shifting toward beneficiation and industrial development to unlock long-term value
🔹 Unlocking Agribusiness potential-lessons on innovation, market access, and agritourism as drivers of inclusive growth
🔹 The growing role of women in shaping COMESA’s digital financial ecosystem and why inclusion matters
🔹 Perspectives on strengthening manufacturing and positioning African economies for global markets

Read Here: https://lnkd.in/d3SqjHux

21/04/2026

We successfully hosted a high-level side event in partnership with the NewSpace Initiative and MEDEF focused on “Africa-Europe Space Partnerships: Unlocking NewSpace Opportunities.”

Hosted in Libreville, Gabon on the margins of the hashtag Africa Conference, the side event brought together various stakeholders from Across Africa and Europe.

Moderated by Maria Kislat, the roundtable featured insightful contributions from our CEO Teddy Soobramanien PhD (Law), Jean Francois Bureau, Adriana Marais, and Gabriele Redigonda.

A key message from the CBC-CEO, Teddy Soobramanien, was the growing shift toward increased private sector participation and more solution-driven approaches in leveraging space technologies. He emphasized that Africa must take an active role in driving innovation alongside global partners.

The discussions underscored the critical role of Africa–Europe partnerships in unlocking opportunities within the hashtag economy particularly through collaboration, investment, and knowledge exchange.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all speakers, participants for the forward-looking dialogue.

Building on these conversations, CBC in partnership with BDI - Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. continues to advance its work through dedicated platforms, including the CBC- technology workgroup, with a focus on practical applications such as using space technologies for environmental monitoring, deforestation tracking, and sustainable development.

17/04/2026

You can join the discussion and register by 17 April: https://lnkd.in/dRCPFV3U

28/03/2026

The Zambia International Mining and Energy Conference, held from 25–26 March 2026 under the theme “Promoting Responsible Investment and Partnerships to Sustainably Grow Zambia’s Mining and Energy Sectors,” brought together delegates from across the COMESA region and beyond to advance strategic dialogue on mining, energy, and regional integration.

The Conference was officially opened by Republic of Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema, reflecting the strong national commitment to driving sustainable growth in Mining and Energy sectors.

The COMESA Business Council (CBC) actively contributed to the discussions, with CEO Teddy Soobramanien PhD (Law) participating in Panel 7 on Local Content and Beneficiation.

During the session, the CEO underscored that unlocking the region’s full potential will require a deliberate focus on value addition, supported by the effective application of capital, skills, and technology-particularly in the mining and energy sectors.

He further called on industry players to leverage COMESA trade integration frameworks to boost intra-regional trade and strengthen regional value chains.

CBC extends its appreciation to the organisers, AME Trade, in partnership with the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development | Zambia and the Ministry of Energy Zambia.

25/03/2026

Yesterday, the CBC team, led by CEO Teddy Soobramanien, paid a courtesy call on our member, Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC).

The engagement provided an opportunity for meaningful discussions on enhancing investment in the energy sector, with CBC commending CEC’s leadership in advancing solar energy and its continued contribution to regional power development.

CBC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting CEC’s initiatives and strengthening collaboration in driving sustainable energy solutions.

We extend our appreciation to the Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc team George Kang’ombe and Vincent Nyirenda for the insightful exchange.

The energy sector remains a critical pillar for the COMESA region. With support from the World Bank, COMESA is implementing the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) programme aimed at expanding energy access across Eastern and Southern Africa and delivering electricity connections to 100 million people.

13/03/2026

From the 10th to the 11th of March 2026, CBC was in London for the Action Learning Exchange (ALE) workshop convened by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Office and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) under the theme “Together Building the Future of Agri-food Trade in Africa.”🌍

On Day 1, our CEO Teddy Soobramanien PhD (Law) joined the panel “Building Resilience: Backing the Markets That Will Feed the Future.”

In his remarks, the CEO emphasised that investment in food value chains does not begin with capital alone, but with the enabling environment that makes investment viable and predictable. He highlighted several key enablers, including:

* Predictable policy and regulatory frameworks that give investors confidence to commit long-term capital
* Efficient trade and border systems that reduce delays and costs for perishable agricultural goods
* Strong infrastructure and logistics connectivity, particularly storage, cold chains, and transport corridors
* Greater adoption of digital and innovative technologies to improve productivity and market integration

He also underscored the importance of strong public-private dialogue, noting that governments are more likely to prioritise reforms when the private sector presents clear, evidence-based investment cases that demonstrate the economic value of regional value chains.

On Day 2, CBC contributed to the workshop “Financing the Future of Food Markets – A Corridor Approach.” Participants explored how food trade corridors can connect production zones, processing capacity, logistics networks, and markets across borders.

Discussions focused on shaping a shared vision for corridor development, identifying complementary programmes and investment opportunities, and exploring coordination mechanisms that can strengthen collaboration among corridor-level actors.

A sincere thank you to AGRA and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for giving CBC the opportunity to participate in this important dialogue and bringing together stakeholders committed to advancing Africa’s agri-food trade systems. 🤝

08/03/2026

06/03/2026

Last week (26 February), we convened our first Circular Economy and Environment Workgroup meeting for 2026, bringing together private sector leaders and experts to explore how circular economy strategies can reduce costs, strengthen local value chains, and unlock new business opportunities.

The meeting also encouraged dialogue on overcoming key barriers such as technical capacity, financing, and policy gaps that continue to limit the scaling of circular economy practices across the region.

Workgroup Chairperson Gudula Naiga Basaza highlighted that the circular economy presents a strategic opportunity for businesses to transition toward models that prioritize resource efficiency, reuse, recycling, and regeneration. She noted that adopting circular approaches is not only an environmental imperative but also a pathway to innovation, cost savings, job creation, and improved competitiveness in regional and international markets.

Participants also benefited from valuable insights from Mr VIMAL SHAH Chairman of Bidco Africa, who shared practical circular economy interventions in manufacturing and a strong private sector perspective. In addition, Sarah Elsaid, PhD from Africa Circular highlighted key circular economy strategies and the important role the private sector plays in driving sustainable systems.

Vice Chairperson Hussein Lotfy emphasized the importance of integrating sustainability with business competitiveness and strengthening regional collaboration through COMESA.

At CBC we remain committed to advancing the circular economy agenda by supporting businesses through policy advocacy, knowledge sharing, and regional partnerships. By working with the private sector across the COMESA region, CBC is helping to accelerate the adoption of circular business models that drive innovation, strengthen value chains, and build a more sustainable and competitive regional economy.

05/03/2026