Business updates

On Friday 10 July 2026, Mr. Patrice Marie, President of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), was elected to the Board of Directors of the COMESA Business Council (CBC) for the 2026–2028 term during the organisation's 12th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in hybrid format from Lusaka, Zambia.

Mr. Marie joins the newly elected Board alongside representatives from across the COMESA region, reinforcing Mauritius' active participation in regional private sector leadership.

Mr. Mucai Kunyiha, representing the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) emerged as the new President, Dr. Sherif El Gabaly of the Egyptian Businessmen Association (EBA) and the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) will serve as 1st Vice President, Mrs. Munkeni Kiekie Eliane of the Federation des Entreprises du Congo (FEC) has been elected 2nd Vice President and Mr. Mohamed Guirreh Galab of the Chamber of Commerce of Djibouti (CCD) 3rd Vice President.

Other elected Board members include Mr. Kenneth Ayebare of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Mr. Gerald Zhou of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), and Mr. Arnold Kweyani Mbwana of the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI).

The newly elected Board will steer the work of the COMESA Business Council over the next two years, building on efforts to deepen private sector collaboration and support the implementation of regional trade and investment priorities.

During the AGM, members reaffirmed their commitment to fostering stronger business partnerships and positioning the private sector at the heart of COMESA's regional integration agenda.

The appointment of Mr. Marie strengthens the MCCI's voice within the CBC and provides an important platform to advocate for the interests of Mauritian businesses while advancing regional trade, investment and economic integration.