It is an honor to officially welcome all delegates, financiers, and business leaders to the 19th COMESA Business Forum and Exhibition! To everyone visiting our beautiful country: welcome to your home away from home. Running under the theme “One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA,” the Forum and Exhibition showcase innovations across priority regional value chains, including green industries, leather and circular economies, agriculture, manufacturing, and technology, reflecting COMESA’s commitment to integration, competitiveness, and inclusive growth. The timing of this forum is critical. Every strategy we drive this week is rooted in a resolute effort to secure a better life for all our people and fulfill our continent's true potential. • Value Addition & Beneficiation: The private sector must move beyond exporting raw materials. We must add value right here in Africa—focusing heavily on agro-processing, leather, cotton, and the battery value chain. • Cross-Border Collaboration: True integration means a Zimbabwean agro-processor seamlessly partnering with a Zambian counterpart to supply the region. • Borders as Bridges, Not Bottlenecks: Our borders must connect us, not divide us. The modernization of the Beitbridge Border Post stands as a testament to Zimbabwe's commitment to flawless logistics and free-flowing cross-border trade. • Leveraging the AfCFTA: COMESA serves as the vital building block for the wider African Continental Free Trade Area market. To the captains of industry and financiers: I invite you to join us on this exciting journey. Government relies on your feedback to ensure your capital is safe, secure, and productive. Zimbabwe is ready to partner with you across agriculture, mining, manufacturing, energy, ICT, and pharmaceuticals. Let us develop powerful networks, tear down trade barriers, and turn the vast opportunities across COMESA states into tangible business outcomes. #COMESA2026 #ZimbabweIsOpenForBusiness #OneMarketOneFuture #AfricaTrade #Industrialization #RegionalIntegration