In order to boost commerce throughout the continent, African ministers have advocated for greater policy harmonization and cooperation among nations.
The appeal was made by the ministers at a panel discussion at the Africa Trade Conference 2026 in South Africa, where they talked about how cooperation, policy, and execution might improve the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The goal of the high-level strategic gathering is to increase Africa’s influence in determining the direction of international trade.
On Wednesday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) will provide online coverage of the event, which is sponsored by Access Bank, Nigeria.
“Turning Vision into Velocity: Building Africa’s Trade Ecosystem for Real-World Impact” is the conference’s theme.
During the meeting, Mr. Chipoka Mulenga, Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade, and Industry, stated that improving intra-African trade required coordination and policy coherence among African nations.
He claims that Zambia has created frameworks to encourage local investment and trade, but for regional trade to flourish, these frameworks must be in line with those of other African nations.
In order for things to come together, policy is crucial. If we want to improve trade among ourselves, it needs to be reliable, consistent, and cohesive,” he stated.
The minister emphasized that African countries should prioritize collaboration over rivalry and that policies should support nations in leveraging each other’s advantages.
He used the production of copper as an example, pointing out that market options within Africa may be limited when multiple nations try to process the same commodity without coordination.
“Instead of competing in the same areas, we should look at each other’s comparative advantages and invest in each other’s economies,” he stated.
Speaking as well, Ms. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry, stated that while Africa has policies, they are difficult to apply and harmonize.
She claims that variations in certification and regulatory practices among nations frequently impede commerce and deter companies.
“Policy is not lacking in Africa. The execution of these policies in a coordinated manner is what we lack,” she stated.
He clarified that goods certified in one African nation occasionally need to be re-certified before being imported into another, which causes needless delays.
“Countries must be prepared to make concessions in order for the AfCFTA to succeed. Integration would continue to be challenging if each nation insists on separately validating everything, he stated.
The minister said that nations may start by acknowledging each other’s norms in a few areas before progressively increasing collaboration.
Instead of waiting for all African countries to come to an agreement, he continued, development might begin with a few.
Ofosu-Adjare stated, “If two nations start and show success, others will follow.”
Mr. Mmusi Kgafela, Botswana’s Minister of Trade and Industry, stated that governments must primarily foster a climate that is favorable to companies and investors.
He clarified that the private sector now drives the majority of economic activity, with governments serving mostly as coordinators.
“The primary responsibility of the government is to establish the favorable conditions. Coordination is needed; the policies and plans are already in place, he stated.
The minister went on to say that by creating trade routes and alliances with neighboring nations, Botswana was shifting from being a “landlocked” nation to a “land-linked” economy.
He claims that cooperative initiatives with nations like Zambia are enhancing cross-border trade through infrastructure and one-stop border posts that shorten freight delays.
In response to inquiries from attendees, Ghanaian Minister Ofosu-Adjare also addressed worries about competition from outside economies, stating that Africa must safeguard its industries while advancing regional commerce.
He pointed out that when comparable goods are already manufactured on the continent, African nations might use policies like tariffs to safeguard domestic businesses.
The minister also emphasized the significance of long-term funding for African industry and praised Access Bank for its support of programs meant to increase businesses’ access to capital.
In order to improve Africa’s trading environment, conference attendees emphasized the necessity of increased cooperation between governments, financial institutions, and the private sector.
Policymakers, corporate executives, and financial institutions came together for the conference to discuss workable plans for growing commerce throughout Africa’s more than 1.5 billion-person market. (NAN)
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