By: Van
Soul Addey
African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretary-General Wamkele Mene has called for deeper
continental economic integration, saying Africa’s transformation will depend on
creating an integrated market that enables businesses to operate and compete
more effectively across borders.
Mene made the call while
delivering a keynote address at the Project Management Institute Global Summit
Series in Cape Town, where leaders and professionals from across sectors
gathered to discuss issues shaping Africa’s economic future.
He said Africa cannot
achieve its full economic potential through fragmented national markets,
stressing the need for greater continental integration to facilitate the
seamless movement of goods, services, people and capital across borders.
According to Mene, deeper
integration would create the scale required for African businesses to compete
globally, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expected to play a
central role in driving the benefits of the AfCFTA.
He said the success of the
continental trade agreement would ultimately be reflected in lower trade costs,
reduced administrative barriers and greater access to business opportunities
across Africa.
Mene also stressed the
importance of moving from continental commitments to practical implementation
through national reforms, modernised customs systems, digital trade tools and
efficient payment solutions.
He further identified
Africa’s growing digital economy and advances in artificial intelligence as
significant opportunities for investment, innovation and job creation.
With Africa’s young
population at the centre of the continent’s future, Mene said investment in
digital infrastructure, enabling regulation and economic opportunities would be
critical to ensuring that young Africans can participate meaningfully in the continent’s
economic transformation.
