Nairobi, Kenya – President William Ruto has called on African nations to work together to expand intra-African trade from the current 14% to at least 50%, aligning the continent with other global regions that trade internally at between 60% and 70%.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 24th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government in Nairobi, President Ruto emphasized that unlocking trade among Africa’s 1.4 billion people would “triple demand for our goods, products, and services” and significantly strengthen the continent’s economies.
The President underscored the need to eliminate visa restrictions that hinder the free movement of people, ideas, and talent across African borders. He further urged member states to “dismantle tariff and non-tariff barriers that have turned our borders into obstacles instead of bridges.”
Dr. Ruto also stressed the importance of ending Africa’s reliance on exporting raw materials, advocating instead for value addition within the continent to create jobs and retain wealth locally.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to championing economic integration, regional cooperation, and industrial transformation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework, saying these steps are vital for achieving sustainable prosperity across Africa
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