Faure Gnassingbé, the president of the Council of Ministers of Togo, urged African countries to move from political commitments to concrete measures that would facilitate trade and industrial integration across the continent.
He said intra-African trade continues to face major obstacles, including high transport and logistics costs, non-tariff barriers, and slow border procedures, warning that such challenges limit Africa’s ability to compete globally.
“In a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, no African country can safeguard its interests in isolation,” Gnassingbé said, stressing that regional integration has become a strategic necessity for the continent.
The Togolese leader also highlighted the importance of strengthening regional value chains and expanding the participation of women, youth, and small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa’s economic transformation.
Meanwhile, Mahamadou Issoufou, AfCFTA champion and former president of Niger, said the trade pact represents a key pillar of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and a major opportunity to accelerate industrialization and reduce dependence on raw material exports.
Issoufou called for increased investment in transport, logistics, and digital infrastructure to support the free movement of goods and services across African markets. He also stressed the importance of removing non-tariff barriers and enhancing regional cooperation to improve competitiveness.
He further pointed to Africa’s growing strategic importance in the global energy transition due to its reserves of critical minerals, arguing that the continent must secure greater value addition and industrial benefits from its natural resources.
For his part, George Elombi, president and chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), highlighted the role of intra-African trade and targeted financing in supporting industrial development, citing Afreximbank’s efforts to develop regional cotton value chains across several West and Central African countries.
This year’s Biashara Afrika forum focuses heavily on implementation and private-sector partnerships, featuring roundtables, masterclasses, and specialized platforms, including a “Deal Room” aimed at facilitating investment agreements and commercial partnerships.
The forum, which runs through May 20 in Lomé, brings together policymakers, financial institutions, development partners, and business leaders to discuss ways to advance the vision of a single African market under the AfCFTA framework.
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