By: Cynthia Masibo
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry, Hon. Salim Mvurya, has urged African leaders to transform the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) into a robust driver of economic growth and industrialization. Speaking on behalf of President William Ruto at the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative Forum in Kigali, Hon. Mvurya emphasized that Africa must “dare to invent the future” by creating industries, enhancing value chains, and tapping into the vast potential of the continent.
Addressing an audience of African leaders, including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, Mvurya highlighted Kenya’s commitment to regional integration. He praised the second phase of the Guided Trade Initiative, which will incorporate the services sector, calling it a “vital step” towards increasing intra-African trade. Kenya was among the first nations to export goods under the initial phase of the Initiative.
Mvurya painted a vision of a self-sustaining Africa where resources are no longer exported as raw materials but are processed and manufactured within the continent. He noted that while only 17% of Africa’s exports are traded within the continent, the AfCFTA presents an opportunity to close the gap with regions like Asia and Europe, where intra-regional trade stands at 59% and 69% respectively.
“We must imagine a continent that produces what it consumes and consumes what it produces,” Mvurya said. He pointed to the development of industries such as textile mills, automotive plants, agribusiness hubs, and tech ecosystems as pivotal to this transformation.
For the AfCFTA to achieve its full potential, Mvurya stressed that Africa must invest in infrastructure. He called for improvements in roads, railways, and ports, alongside robust energy solutions that can support industries. Furthermore, digital infrastructure is crucial to connect every corner of Africa in the modern age, he said.
The forum also highlighted the urgent need for climate adaptation, with Mvurya acknowledging Africa’s vulnerability to climate change despite its minimal contribution to the global crisis. He emphasized that trade could be part of the solution, fostering environmental initiatives that align with economic growth. “Africa can lead the world in green technology, renewable energy, and climate-smart agriculture,” he remarked.
Kenya, according to Mvurya, has already begun aligning trade policies with climate goals. He shared that the country is developing a “Green Supplement” to its AfCFTA Implementation Strategy, which will guide efforts in promoting sustainable, green intra-African trade, particularly in sectors like tea and coffee.
In his closing remarks, Mvurya called for unity and strategic coordination among African nations. He urged leaders to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers and to build value chains that foster economic growth across the continent. “The AfCFTA is our generation’s defining challenge,” he said, rallying the delegates to seize the moment and build a prosperous Africa for future generations.
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