At the 57th Session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, delivered his opening remarks emphasizing the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in driving inclusive economic growth and structural transformation across the continent.
Addressing a distinguished audience that included finance ministers, central bank governors, and key international partners, Mene stressed that advancing the implementation of the AfCFTA is “more than an economic necessity; it is a strategic pathway to achieving inclusive growth, resilience, and sustainable development across the continent.” He underscored that the AfCFTA, built on a developmental integration approach as outlined in Agenda 2063, is pivotal in shifting African economies from raw material dependency to value-added production and industrialization.
He also detailed the robust legal framework established through negotiated protocols covering trade in goods and services, dispute settlement, investment, competition policy, intellectual property rights, digital trade, and women and youth in trade. “Our Heads of State and Government have signaled that these legal instruments must now become drivers of development,” he stated, urging full implementation to deliver tangible results for SMEs, African investors, and economic operators amid global uncertainties such as geopolitical tensions and elevated interest rates.
The Secretary-General also spotlighted several operational tools and initiatives that are already propelling intra-African trade. Among these are the E-Tariff Book, a digital database offering precise tariff information; the Rules of Origin Manual, which simplifies compliance with trade regulations; and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), aimed at reducing reliance on foreign currencies. He noted that the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, with $1 billion mobilized and a target of $10 billion, is set to support industrial development and the creation of trade aggregating companies.
He further highlighted the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), which has seen the number of certificates of origin surge from 13 in 2022 to over 2,600, reflecting growing trade activity under the AfCFTA’s preferential tariff system. Mene illustrated the initiative’s impact by citing examples of evolving trade patterns, such as South Africa exporting manufactured goods to Kenya and Rwanda’s packaged coffee reaching Ghana and Algeria, often spearheaded by women-led SMEs and rural communities.
President Mene announced that partnerships are underway to streamline trade processes through digital innovations. Collaborations with TradeMark Africa (TMA) have led to the development of the AfCFTA Electronic Certificate of Origin (E-CO) framework and infrastructure improvements along key corridors like the Abidjan–Lagos route. He stressed that these initiatives are critical for creating a modern, technology-driven trade ecosystem across Africa.
Concluding his remarks, Mene called on African finance, planning, and economic development ministers to enhance macroeconomic stability, mobilize resources, and strengthen financial systems to bridge an estimated $80 billion trade finance gap. He made note that robust private sector engagement, along with strategic public–private partnerships, is essential for the full realization of the AfCFTA’s potential to position Africa as a global trade and industrialization leader.
Mene’s address however sets a clear agenda for accelerating economic integration and sustainable development across Africa, with 49 Member States already ratifying the Agreement and targeted interventions in sectors such as agriculture, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and transport & logistics.
