- To achieve this, he called for the removal of visa restrictions that hinder the free movement of people, ideas, and talent, and the dismantling of tariff and non-tariff barriers that have turned borders into obstacles rather than bridges.
President William Ruto officially opened the 24th COMESA Summit on October 9, 2025, under the theme “Leveraging Digitalization to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.”
Ruto has urged African leaders to work together to raise intra-African trade from the current 14% to 50%, aligning with other regions that trade internally at rates of 60–70%. He emphasizes that unlocking trade across the continent’s 1.4 billion people would triple demand for African goods, products, and services.
To achieve this, he called for the removal of visa restrictions that hinder the free movement of people, ideas, and talent, and the dismantling of tariff and non-tariff barriers that have turned borders into obstacles rather than bridges.
“We must also stop exporting raw materials and instead add value here at home. This will create jobs, build and keep wealth in Africa,” he said.
Ruto reaffirmed his belief in the African Union as the bedrock of continental progress, stating that its mandate must reflect the aspirations of Africa’s people and secure a united, peaceful, and prosperous future.
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“Our shared goal is to strengthen the Union, ensure it delivers on its promise, and make it an instrument that truly serves Africa and its people,” he said.
As the AU Champion for Institutional Reform, he embraced the responsibility to drive meaningful change and ensure the Union delivers on its promise. “Together,” he said, “we will advance COMESA’s vision of shared prosperity, deeper integration, and true transformation. Let us shape COMESA into a digital, dynamic, and inclusive regional bloc that embodies the promise of a rising Africa.”
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