Marrakesh – The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, called on Friday in Marrakech for an effective and accelerated implementation of this ambitious project, which holds immense promise for Africa’s economic development.
“The moment is crucial. We have moved past the technical questions and are now in the implementation phase of the AfCFTA, and we must accelerate it,” Mene said during the 2nd edition of the AfCFTA Business Forum, under the theme “Together for an efficient implementation of the AfCFTA.”
In this context, he emphasized “the ability of member countries to build a resilient continental market and strengthen Africa’s competitiveness, especially in a global environment marked by increased uncertainty, evolving investment policies, industrial nationalism, and fragmentation,” noting that these realities “remind us that our continent must rely on its internal market to ensure its economic self-sufficiency.”
To this end, Mene stressed the need for African countries to build their own supply chain networks, develop their industrial capacities, and invest in their own industries through their development finance institutions.
He added that African countries are also called upon to “rely on their productive capacity and deepen intra-African supply chains,” welcoming the fact that the results of ministerial negotiations on textiles, clothing, and rules of origin are particularly significant.
Highlighting the central role of the private sector in the implementation of the AfCFTA, he stated that the 2026 edition of the AfCFTA Business Forum must focus on building stronger value chains that enable innovation, competitiveness, and the expected impact.
In this regard, Mene congratulated Morocco for “this economic success and for the diversification of its economy over the past decades,” noting that the Kingdom’s experience is inspiring for other African countries as part of the AfCFTA’s implementation.
Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the 2nd edition of the AfCFTA Business Forum is part of Morocco’s ongoing efforts to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA, both nationally and regionally.
Organized by the Secretariat of State for Foreign Trade, in partnership with the AfCFTA, the Moroccan Exporters Association (ASMEX), the CGEM, and the Association of Moroccan Regions (ARM), this meeting demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to consolidating mechanisms that promote free trade and sustainable economic integration among African countries.
