African leaders unite to promote green industrialization, climate-smart development

Government of Kenya, in collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, has hosted a High-Level Consultative Meeting on the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII).

The initiative aims to position Africa as a global leader in green manufacturing and climate-smart industrial development.

To accelerate Africa’s green industrial transition and promote sustainable economic growth, to support climate-resilient growth, job creation, and sustainability through industrialisation and to design a robust financing framework for priority green industrial clusters.

The meeting aimed to secure strategic commitments from financial institutions, not only as funders but also as co-architects of a homegrown financing model that supports climate-smart industrial growth.

The meeting also reflected the collective commitment to Africa’s green industrial future, with a focus on mobilising finance and developing a financing framework for green industrial clusters.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) was among the participants, bringing expertise in development finance and green initiatives.

Afreximbank participated in the meeting, highlighting the importance of trade finance in supporting green industrialisation.

The African Union Commission (AUC) was represented at the meeting, underscoring the importance of continental cooperation in promoting green industrialisation.

According to the Secretary-General, AfCFTA, H.E. Wamkele Mene: “We had productive discussions focused on mobilising finance and developing a financing framework for green industrial clusters, reflecting our collective commitment to Africa’s green industrial future.”

“The Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative is a transformative effort that aims to promote sustainable economic growth and climate-resilient development in Africa. The High-Level Consultative Meeting was a crucial step towards translating the AGII vision into concrete, investable action,” he stated.