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By Ncaba Ntshakala
During the 56th Eswatini International Trade Fair official opening, the AfCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Mene delivered an impassioned plea about the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
When delivering his remarks, Mene highlighted the importance of leveraging Africa’s vast economic landscape to unlock opportunities worth billions of dollars for African countries, including Eswatini. The official opening was facilitated by His Majesty King Mswati III and King MisiZulu of the Zulu nation.
He emphasized how critical it is for Eswatini to capitalize on the opportunities created by the AfCFTA, a continental market comprising 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion (approximately E60 trillion).
Mene lauded Eswatini’s pivotal role from the inception of the AfCFTA, recognizing the kingdom’s proactive approach to ensuring private sector businesses could expand beyond the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and into the broader African market.
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This strategic alignment, Mene noted, places Eswatini in a prime position to access billions of dollars in potential business growth across Africa.
Mene’s remarks focused on Eswatini’s potential to tap into a consolidated African market, urging the kingdom’s private sector to explore investment and trade opportunities beyond its regional borders.
“The Kingdom of Eswatini was at the vanguard from the very beginning of the AfCFTA establishment, recognizing opportunities for business expansion,” said Mene.
He pointed to Eswatini’s successful participation in SACU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), indicating that the country is well-positioned to take full advantage of the expanded market the AfCFTA offers.
He referenced his earlier visit to Eswatini, during which his delegation had the privilege of briefing the Eswatini government on the progress made in implementing the AfCFTA.
With this expanded market of 1.4 billion people, the opportunities for trade and investment are vast. By accessing this market, Eswatini can contribute to its overall economic growth while engaging more robustly with its African neighbours.
The AfCFTA Secretary General did not shy away from the economic potential these opportunities represent. “We believe that the Kingdom of Eswatini is well-poised to take advantage of the market that the AfCFTA offers,” he reiterated where he emphasized the significant role the private sector must play in realizing this growth.
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The growing youth and women entrepreneurs in Eswatini, many of whom are active participants in the trade fair, represent a powerful force in driving this transformation.
A central theme of Mene’s speech was the role of youth and women in Africa’s future. He pointed out that the AfCFTA has made history by adopting the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade.
This groundbreaking protocol, the first of its kind globally, mandates African governments to eliminate trade and investment barriers that impede the growth of businesses led by youth and women.
