Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Mene Wamkele, has stated that deeper collaboration with the private sector remains the catalyst for igniting Africa’s long-awaited investment revolution and sustainable growth.
To this end, he said the time has come to collaboratively take private sector support in driving intra-African investment beyond the current 4 per cent.
Speaking at the 39th edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Wamkele stressed that the private sector plays a central role in advancing the objectives of AfCFTA.
He noted that efforts are ongoing to harmonise trade and Customs policies, digitise trade processes, and strengthen regional value chains.
According to him, partnering with the private sector will accelerate these goals and enhance Africa’s economic integration. Wamkele added that the theme of the fair “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value” focuses on regional integration, trade facilitation, investment opportunities, inclusive partnerships, and the creative economy, which aligns with AfCFTA’s mission.
“Inclusivity of benefits of trade, inclusivity of opportunities, must be at the center and must be our priority.
“That is why our heads of states adopted the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade, so that the opportunities that we know exist, the opportunities that our SMEs, that are led by women and young people, can be translated beyond the national borders, beyond the regions to the rest of the continent.”
