Comesa states lag in intra-bloc investment as China gains ground

Investment by Comesa member states within the bloc is weakening as foreign investors, particularly from China, gain ground.

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Investment by Comesa member states within the bloc is weakening as foreign investors, particularly from China, gain ground, underscoring the need for policy action to strengthen regional integration, a new report shows.

The 2025 Comesa Investment Report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) notes that cross-border investment within the 21-member bloc has remained among the lowest of Africa’s regional economic communities over the past five years (2020–2024).