The COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA)

COMESA RIA is the Regional Investment Agency of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, established in 2006 to lead promotion, facilitation, and advocacy that make the region a compelling investment destination. It operates as an actionable bridge between the private sector and member-state governments/IPAs, providing curated investment opportunities, country profiles, and a knowledge hub to inform decisions. The mandate spans investment-climate improvement, policy harmonization, capacity building for national IPAs, and cross-border partnerships. From its base in Cairo, RIA deploys evidence-based analytics, events, and match-making to move projects from interest to execution. By institutionalizing public–private dialogue and offering investor information services, the Agency helps de-risk market entry and accelerate regional value chains. The result is a pipeline of bankable, scalable projects that support competitiveness, job creation, and sustainable growth across the COMESA bloc.