Leaders from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have called for stronger regional integration and increased intra-African trade to drive economic growth and industrialization.

The call was made Thursday at the bloc's 25th Heads of State and Government Summit in Mount Hampden, outside Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, where Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa took over as COMESA chairperson from Kenyan President William Ruto.

Mnangagwa urged the bloc's 21 member states to harness their resources and investment potential to accelerate industrialization and expand cross-border trade.

He called for measures to address non-tariff barriers, infrastructure gaps and differences in national policies, including simpler border procedures, digital trade systems and innovative financing for infrastructure development.

He also urged countries to process more of their natural resources locally to create jobs and promote sustainable economic growth.

Outgoing chairperson Ruto said stronger regional integration was increasingly important amid rising geopolitical tensions, protectionism and disruptions to global supply chains.

He urged African countries to expand intra-African trade, develop resilient regional value chains and reduce reliance on exporting raw materials without adding value.

Ruto said COMESA could strengthen Africa's position in global trade by enabling member states to negotiate as a unified market.

He also stressed the importance of peace, security and good governance, calling for stronger regional capacity to prevent conflict.

COMESA brings together 21 member states and seeks to promote regional economic integration through trade, investment and infrastructure development.