As global trade grapples with renewed waves of protectionism under President Donald Trump’s second term in office, Africa is moving decisively to strengthen its own economic base through regional integration.
In a strategic push to bolster intra-African trade and industrialisation, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, in collaboration with the Republic of Djibouti, is set to host a high-level Regional Conference on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) from April 21 to 22, 2025, in Djibouti City.
The Conference, held under the patronage of President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, is expected to shape how SEZs can be leveraged to accelerate industrial transformation, trade facilitation, and regional cooperation across the continent. Representatives from AfCFTA State Parties, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), SEZ authorities, financial institutions, and the private sector will participate in discussions aimed at unlocking Africa’s trade and manufacturing potential.
A key feature of the discussions will focus on the implementation of Article 9 of Annex II of the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods. This provision allows goods produced within SEZs to qualify as “originating” for preferential trade treatment, as long as they meet established criteria. Reinforcing this, Ministerial Regulation 1/2023 adopted in February 2023 provides a regulatory framework to ensure that SEZs contribute meaningfully to intra-African trade while safeguarding national markets through competition policy and infant industry protections.
This conference comes at a critical juncture. The Trump administration’s “America First” trade posture and increasing tariff barriers have rekindled uncertainties in the global trade system. For Africa, this external volatility only highlights the urgency of building internal resilience and reducing over-reliance on traditional Western markets.
Through coordinated SEZ strategies, Africa aims to reposition itself as a hub for regional manufacturing with enhanced infrastructure, integrated trade corridors, and sustainable financing models. Djibouti’s strategic position as a Red Sea logistics gateway and its success with SEZs will serve as a blueprint for regional best practices.
The conference programme includes panel discussions, investor dialogues, and a site visit to Djibouti’s SEZ infrastructure. Key topics will include SEZ governance under the AfCFTA, value chain resilience, financing opportunities, and skills development for industrial competitiveness.
With AfCFTA now the largest free trade area globally by participating countries, this gathering underscores Africa’s determination to build a robust internal market that can weather external shocks and seize the moment to define its own trade future.
