Empowering Africa: a new strategy to grow trade and exports

FIIAPP has provided technical assistance for the development of the strategy, through the Team Europe, EU-TAF program in support of the AfCFTA. The strategy aims to address the region’s current dependence on exports of primary commodities, such as agricultural products, minerals and raw materials, and to increase its share of the global trade market. 

During the validation seminar of this important strategy, held in Windhoek, Namibia, Tapiwa Ronald Cheuka, Trade Policy Officer of the African Union Commission, stressed the importance of this initiative: “This strategy is crucial for Africa’s economic growth and development,” said Cheuka. “By boosting intra-African trade and diversifying our exports, we can create new markets, reduce our dependence on external factors and improve the livelihoods of our people.  

The strategy, known as the African Union Strategy for Growth and Export Diversification, has been developed as part of the Commission’s broader efforts to promote regional integration and economic development, building on existing programs aimed at boosting intra-African trade and increasing Africa’s share of world trade.    

Cheuka stressed the importance of the collaboration with FIIAPP in the development of the strategy: “We have had a very positive working relationship with both the experts who developed the strategy and the team coordinating the support, their expertise and support have been instrumental in shaping this initiative,” he said.   

The validation seminar was attended by representatives of the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and trade officials from African Union member states, among others. The Second Head of the Spanish Embassy in Namibia, Mrs. Emilia Celemín, was also present. All participants have made valuable contributions to enrich the study.   

The next step is to incorporate the comments gathered during this validation phase and initiate an approval process by the Specialized Technical Committee on Trade, Tourism and Industry. This process will ensure that the strategy is thoroughly reviewed and approved by the relevant African authorities. Once approved, it will be implemented in all countries through a series of targeted interventions aimed at increasing the competitiveness of African exporters, improving infrastructure and reducing barriers to trade. Cheuka stresses that, if fully implemented, this strategy “will open many doors, especially for SMEs,” underlining that they represent the majority of Africa’s businesses.