President Kagame Urges African Leaders to Fix Politics and Governance for Successful AfCFTA Implementation
By Ange de la Victoire DUSABEMUNGU
On Wednesday, 9th October, 2024, at the Kigali Convention Centre, President Paul Kagame participated in the official opening ceremony of the 2nd AfCFTA Business Forum: Biashara Afrika 2024. The three-day Forum, themed “Dare to Invent the Future of the AfCFTA”, focuses on the challenges and opportunities in building regional and continental value chains and establishing reliable supply chain networks.
In his remarks, President Kagame commended the African Union Commission for the efforts to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. He highlighted the journey that began in Kigali six years ago and emphasized the commitment of Africa to economic unity and prosperity.
President Kagame urged African leaders to address issues that hinder progress, particularly in politics and governance. He emphasized the need for free movement of people, goods, and services across borders, stating, “We agree we are brothers and sisters with the same needs, but lack of freedom of movement is all about politics that can be fixed and we must fix it.”
The President also stressed the importance of creating an enabling environment for business, including removing non-tariff barriers and reducing logistics costs.
He praised Rwanda Air and Ethiopian Airlines for their efforts to connect Africa and urged others to join in expanding connectivity on the continent.
President Kagame emphasized the importance of supporting small and medium enterprises, noting that they are the backbone of Africa’s economy.
He encouraged these businesses to grow and highlighted the need for consistency and innovative thinking in building a single continent market.
In conclusion, President Kagame expressed his gratitude to all participants at the Forum and encouraged them to work together towards a successful implementation of the AfCFTA.
He stated, “Working together there is nothing we cannot achieve” and wished everyone a productive meeting.
The Forum will continue over the next two days, focusing on strategies to overcome challenges and maximize opportunities in the process of building regional and continental value chains under the AfCFTA.
