AGRA

The COMESA Business Council (CBC), in collaboration with National Cross-Border Traders Associations (CBTA) and the COMESA CBTA Youth Forum, will host a two-day regional workshop aimed at increasing youth participation in cross-border agricultural trade across the COMESA region.

The workshop, themed “Deepening the Involvement of Youth, particularly Young Women, in the Cross-Border Agricultural Goods Trade in the COMESA Region”, will be held on April 28th to 29th , 2025, with participants from Zimbabwe, Malawi and the host Zambia.

Supported by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the workshop comes at a critical time when Africa’s youth population is expanding rapidly. With over 70% of Africa’s population under the age of 30 and youth expected to constitute 42% of the world’s young people by 2030, harnessing this demographic dividend has become a regional priority.

Cross-border trade stands as a cornerstone of economic development across the COMESA region, accounting for an estimated 40% of intra-regional commerce and providing livelihoods for millions of citizens. According to recent economic studies, strengthening cross-border trade could potentially increase intra-COMESA trade by up to 25% within the next five years, adding billions to the regional economy.

The agricultural sector is a major source of income in Africa and in particular represents a significant portion of this trade, with staple foods, fresh produce, and value-added agricultural products comprising nearly 60% of informal cross-border exchanges. This sector offers immense potential for growth, especially if modern techniques, digital technologies, and improved market access are made available to traders.

Agribusiness, which ranges from SMEs to transnational companies, together with agriculture, is projected to be a US$ 1 trillion industry in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 compared to US$13 billion in 2010, and as such, are indispensable elements of economic transformation and development in the COMESA region (according to COMESA statistics).

The workshop will bring together 36 participants from Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, including representatives from national cross-border trader associations, youth organisations focused on trade and agriculture, small-scale farmers’ cooperatives, women’s organisations, and relevant government agencies.

Key objectives include identifying barriers affecting youth in cross-border agricultural trade, assessing their impact, reviewing progress on addressing these barriers, and developing concrete action plans. The workshop will also strengthen collaboration between various stakeholders, including regional business associations, border agencies, and policymakers.

The youth participation in trade is currently hampered by various challenges, including limited access to education, skills development, financial resources, and restrictive land ownership. The workshop aims to unpack these challenges and propose workable solutions through presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions.

The outcome of this workshop is expected to be an action plan that will guide the implementation of measures to address barriers to youth participation in cross-border agricultural trade within the COMESA region.