Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, has called for lower tariffs, open markets and expanded digital trade as key drivers of Africa’s economic integration and prosperity.
Prof. Murwira made the remarks at the 12th CEO Africa Annual Roundtable in Cape Town, South Africa, where he said African countries needed to remove barriers to commerce and strengthen digital connectivity to accelerate economic growth.
“Africa’s economic integration can only accelerate when tariffs fall, markets open and digital trade expands,” Professor Murwira emphasized.
Prof. Murwira stressed the importance of reducing barriers that continue to constrain commerce across the continent.
“Markets also need to open up to allow businesses to take advantage of opportunities presented by regional and continental economic integration,” he said.
The Minister also placed digital trade at the centre of Africa’s growth prospects, saying stronger digital connectivity would help accelerate economic activity and enable businesses to access markets more efficiently.
“The growth of Africa will be speeded by digital trade,” Prof. Murwira said.
He said Zimbabwe was prepared to contribute to the continent’s economic integration by opening its economy to Southern African and wider African markets while embracing digital trade as a catalyst for faster growth.
“Africa needs to move beyond the existence of trade agreements and ensure that such arrangements translated into increased commerce, production and investment,” Professor Murwira noted.
Prof. Murwira’s participation at the CEO Africa Annual Roundtable provided Zimbabwe with an opportunity to showcase its investment and export opportunities while advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.
The roundtable, held under the theme “The Future of Africa: Innovate, Trade and Grow,” brings together business and political leaders to discuss strategies for accelerating the continent’s economic transformation through innovation, trade and investment.
