COMESA Attracts Record FDI Inflows as Investment Surges 154% to $65 Billion
Heba Salama, CEO of the Regional Investment Agency (RIA) of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), announced that the region is witnessing a rapid transformation in its position on the global investment map, driven by a significant surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows.
Speaking at the opening of the second edition of the COMESA Investment Forum 2026 in Nairobi, held under the patronage of Kenyan President William Ruto, Salama revealed that FDI inflows to COMESA countries jumped by a record 154% in 2024, reaching $65 billion, despite ongoing global economic challenges.
She noted that this strong growth reflects increasing confidence among international investors in the region’s economies, highlighting that major projects—such as Egypt’s Ras El Hekma development—have played a key role in boosting investment momentum across COMESA markets.
Salama added that COMESA’s share of global FDI doubled from 2% to 4%, while its share of FDI directed to developing economies rose from 3% to 7%. The region now accounts for approximately 67% of total FDI inflows into Africa. Meanwhile, international project finance in the region nearly doubled to $79 billion, with greenfield investments maintaining strong performance at over $77 billion.
She emphasized the importance of broadening investment distribution across all member states to maximize development impact, noting that several sectors have experienced significant growth. Investments in construction surged nearly fivefold, while energy and gas investments rose by 22%, and renewable energy investments jumped by 67%. The healthcare and education sectors also recorded notable growth of 130%.
However, she pointed out declines in sectors such as agriculture, food, water, and sanitation infrastructure, while transport investments remain below expectations, requiring intensified efforts to attract capital into these critical areas.
Salama concluded that COMESA is evolving into a standalone investment destination, supported by strong fundamentals including a growing population, emerging markets, and innovative potential. Sustaining this momentum, she stressed, requires a focus on value-added industries, digital infrastructure expansion, human capital development, and enhanced data governance frameworks to ensure transparency and predictability for investors.
