AfCFTA Conference highlights potential of SEZ for economic growth

Stanley Ihedigbo

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, in collaboration with the Government of Djibouti, recently concluded an inaugural Regional Conference on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Djibouti.

The conference brought together senior government officials, SEZ authorities, development finance institutions, private sector leaders, and international partners to explore how SEZs can drive economic transformation and expand intra-African trade within the AfCFTA framework.

The conference emphasized the strategic importance of SEZs in unlocking unprecedented growth across the continent. Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, noted that SEZs are practical tools for investment, innovation, and resilience.

The conference resolved to implement the AfCFTA Ministerial Regulation on SEZs, ensuring that goods produced in SEZs are recognized as originating under AfCFTA Rules of Origin.

The inaugural AfCFTA Digital Trade and Services Forum recently concluded in Lusaka, Zambia, with a call to action to advance Africa’s digital economy. The forum brought together Heads of State and Government, Ministers, the private sector, development partners, and innovators from across the continent and beyond.

The forum emphasized the need for collective action in building digital infrastructure, securing investment, and scaling up innovation. H.E. Wamkele Mene stressed the urgency of investing in interoperable infrastructure, harmonized regulations, and capacity-building initiatives that equip African youth, women, and small enterprises to compete in the digital age.

The forum marked a significant milestone in Africa’s journey toward building a unified digital economy. The AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade was adopted in record time and has been widely heralded as one of the most forward-looking legal instruments on the continent, laying a solid foundation for a single African digital market.

Leaders at the forum emphasized the importance of collective action in driving Africa’s digital transformation. President Hichilema of Zambia reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to positioning itself as a leading force in Africa’s digital transformation, calling for stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector to ensure inclusive growth through digital trade.

The forum sent a clear message emphasizing that SEZs and digital trade are key to building resilient, inclusive, and connected African economies. As Africa continues to navigate the complexities of global economic uncertainty, the AfCFTA remains a beacon of hope for the continent’s economic future.