African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) Secretary-General Wamkele Mene projects that the successful implementation of the continental free trade pact would propel Africa to become a highly competitive global player in the next 30 years.
Mene emphasized during the 2025 Africa Prosperity Dialogue (APD) that African governments need to actively work towards reducing and eliminating trade barriers that hinder the free movement of goods and services across the continent.
“I believe that in 30 years’ time, our continent will be very competitive in the world. We must reduce and eliminate barriers across Africa to help with the movement of goods and services,” he stated.
The AfCFTA agreement, which is the world’s largest free trade area by the number of participating countries, connects 1.3 billion people across 55 nations with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion.
The pact is expected to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, but its success hinges on the implementation of key policy reforms and trade facilitation measures.
By reducing tariffs and addressing regulatory challenges such as sanitary standards and technical trade barriers, the agreement aims to foster a more integrated African economy.
The African Union expects the full implementation of AfCFTA to transform regional markets, enhance economic growth, and significantly boost services, manufacturing, and natural resource sectors across the continent.