II. Facilitating Investment and Financing Opportunities

• The CONNECT platform of the COMESA Business Council enhances access to investment and financing opportunities for businesses.
• Building on the CBC’s existing partnerships with financial institutions, companies will benefit from tailored financing programs and entrepreneurial development initiatives.
• The platform acts as a bridge between entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers, creating an ecosystem conducive to business development in the Indian Ocean and the COMESA region.

III. Leveraging the COMESA Business Council’s Institutional Framework

• The CBC’s governance structure ensures credibility, regulatory compliance, and institutional support.
• The Indian Ocean Consultation Framework (CDC) will integrate with existing CBC programs, including:
  • Trade facilitation and access to markets
  • SME development programs
  • Advocacy for business-friendly regulations

IV. Accelerating the Digital Transformation of Business Support Services

• The CDC aligns with the CBC’s digital transformation strategy, modernizing business support services.
• The platform will offer:
  • A digital toolkit to enable businesses to access essential resources
  • A networking space for professionals to exchange and collaborate
  • A collaborative knowledge-sharing hub to promote best practices, ensuring that COMESA businesses remain competitive in the global economic arena.

V. Influencing Economic Policy Advocacy

• The CDC platform enables businesses to directly influence discussions on regional policies via the CBC.
• CBC acts as an intermediary between the private sector and policymakers, ensuring that business challenges are addressed in COMESA policies.
• The CDC strengthens the CBC’s advocacy efforts, ensuring a more favorable regulatory environment for both SMEs and large enterprises.

The CONNECT platform represents a major advancement in strengthening economic integration and business support in the Indian Ocean and the COMESA region.