LUSAKA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Africa's largest regional economic organization, has adopted a strategy to help its member states effectively implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to a statement issued on Wednesday, the strategy was adopted during the organization's ninth Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers held on April 2, during which it also adopted the COMESA Medium-Term Strategic Plan 2026-2030.

The strategy provides a structured approach to enabling member states to leverage opportunities presented by the continental market, while reinforcing COMESA's role as a building block of the African Economic Community, said the statement.

The meeting reaffirmed COMESA's commitment to advancing regional integration and strengthening its role within the broader continental development framework, it added.

COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe commended member states for their continued commitment to regional integration and highlighted the strategic importance of the adopted frameworks.

She noted that the Medium-Term Strategic Plan offers a clear and forward-looking framework to advance regional transformation through deeper market integration, strengthened productive capacity, improved infrastructure, and inclusive, sustainable development. ■