COMESA opens 16th Committee on Statistical Matters, Reviews Regional Data Strategy

November 19, 2025 – Lusaka

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has officially opened a three-day 16th Session of the Committee on Statistical Matters, bringing together senior statisticians, central bankers, government officials, and development partners to assess progress in the region’s statistical development agenda.

The meeting, attended by representatives from National Statistics Offices, Central Banks, sectoral ministries, the European Union, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), ECA, AUC, MEFMI, PARIS21, Statistics Norway, Statistics Sweden, and sister regional economic communities (IGAD, SADC and EAC), marks a critical point as the COMESA Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS) 2021–2025 enters its final year.

Officially opening the meeting that runs between November 19-21, COMESA assistant secretary general in charge of programmes Ambassador Dr Mohamed Kadah noted that Article 140 of the COMESA Treaty mandates the Committee to drive the statistical agenda that underpins regional integration.

Statistics, he said, remain central to monitoring progress, supporting evidence-based decision-making, and advancing the objectives of the 21-member state COMESA.

Dr. Kadah shared that an independent end-term review of the RSDS, conducted in late 2025 with support from STATAFRIC and PARIS21, highlighted achievements and remaining gaps.

According to Dr. Kadah, the review recommended stronger measures to address resource limitations, staff shortages, delayed data submissions, and slow domestication of Council decisions by member states.

He emphasized that mobilizing additional funding and expanding capacity remain urgent priorities for the Africa’s largest economic bloc.

“Despite challenges, COMESA reported several milestones across the RSDS pillars: Market Integration: Expanded support for International Merchandise Trade Statistics, Import and Export Price Indices, and continued harmonization of consumer price indices,” Dr. Kadah shared.

Areas in which the Committee on Statistical Matters recorded some progress include Productive Integration: Broader coverage of core agricultural data, implementation of food balance sheets, and enhanced capacity in food security statistics.

Physical Integration: Upgraded data platforms, strengthened infrastructure and energy surveys, and improved dissemination through the COMSTAT portal, has also been scored.

Gender and Social Integration: Increased capacity for gender data collection and release of the COMESA Gender Report, was equally achieved.

Therefore, Dr. Kadah expressed deep appreciation to development partners—including AfDB, Statistics Norway, and Statistics Sweden—for their sustained support.

The African Union’s STATAFRIC and PARIS21 were also commended for backing the independent review and co-leading the development of the new Regional Strategy for Statistics (2026–2030), expected to build on current gains.

The assistant secretary general further thanked the delegates for involving national strategic planning experts in drafting the new RSDS, ensuring strong ownership of the strategy across member states.

As the meeting continues, Dr. Kadah urged participants to engage actively in discussions aimed at strengthening regional statistical systems and wished them a productive and successful session as the region prepares for the next phase of its statistical development framework.