The AfCFTA can serve as a catalyst for Africa’s green transformation and de-carbonization, while also creating economic and social benefits for African businesses and consumers.
To realise the intended gains of the AfCFTA, Africa must prioritise production over consumption by empowering the manufacturing sector for self-sufficiency and onward export.
Africa is on the cusp of establishing the world’s most extensive free trade area and the world’s most expansive free movement area, but which one should be prioritized?
Serious and urgent steps need to be taken, to stem the tide of the current wave of Brain Drain, so that Africa will not be short of the needed high-level manpower to actualize the vision of the AfCFTA, and by extension, Agenda 2063
African countries are making strides to capitalise on the incredible potential of digitalisation as it relates to free trade on the continent. The widespread use of mobile and smartphones has aided the progress of the digital economy in Africa over the past decade. However, this progress must manifest in building an efficient free trade system that transcends borders.
The AfCFTA is an ambitious project that requires an aggressive implementation of its enabling policies. Building an effective supply chain infrastructure to support trade is crucial, in order to maximize the gains of the monumental agreement.
Covid-19 has caused unprecedented challenges in every region worldwide. However, in Africa, partially due to the continent's frail health sector and lack of decent infrastructure, the pandemic has presented a unique set of challenges.