The former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, has urged African nations to take the future of the continent into their own hands and take deliberate actions that will drive economic growth.
He emphasized that the long-term, sustained development of Africa is tied to the collective development agenda known as Agenda 2063 and the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
AfCFTA as a key driver of growth
Desalegn reiterated the confidence Africa has in AfCFTA, as reflected in the 47 ratifications by African nations.
He highlighted that between 2017 and 2023, intra-African trade grew by about 27 percent, rising from $140 billion to $190 billion.
He estimated that trade volumes now exceed $400 billion, meaning “more African goods are being exchanged within our continent, and more local businesses are benefiting.”
He also expressed optimism that Africa’s export growth will exceed the global average, positioning the continent as a stronger player in international trade.
Challenges hindering Africa’s trade potential
Delivering a lecture ahead of the signing of an MOU between the AfCFTA Secretariat and Trademark Africa—a non-profit Aid-for-Trade organization where he currently serves as board chair—Desalegn acknowledged the significant barriers to Africa’s economic transformation.
He pointed out that something continues to hinder opportunities and growth across the continent.
A major concern, he said, is the persistent focus on exporting raw materials while importing processed goods made from these very exports.
He described this as “a structural trap keeping us at the lowest end of the global value chain.”
Call for value addition and consumption of local goods
To break free from this economic pattern, Desalegn suggested that African countries begin consuming their own processed goods.
Even if, for phytosanitary reasons, these products cannot yet be exported to other markets, he stressed that local consumption is key to strengthening domestic industries.
He cautioned that merely signing trade agreements is not enough if African countries do not actively develop value-added products.
Addressing Africa’s infrastructure deficit
Among the pressing challenges he identified is the massive infrastructure gap, estimated between $130 billion and $170 billion.
This shortfall, he noted, indicates a dire need for investment in infrastructure if Africa is to build a self-sufficient trade system.
“If we are truly committed to leading trade on the continent, we must take charge of our own destiny,” he urged.
A call for African-led transformation
Desalegn declared that “Africa must lead its own transformation.”
He emphasized that a globally competitive Africa will emerge from what the continent produces, what it buys, and where it invests.
Describing AfCFTA as the only African-led decision that has been successful so far, he urged nations to capitalize on this momentum to drive the continent’s economic transformation.
By SELORM GBORBIDZI, Accra
