Experts Call for Stronger Economic Integration to Accelerate Africa’s Development

Addis Ababa, March 11, 2026 (ENA)—Policy and finance leaders across Africa have called for stronger implementation of the continent’s economic integration agenda to accelerate industrialization, trade and inclusive development.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko stressed that building a unified African market is essential for unlocking the continent’s economic potential and creating jobs for its growing population.

He noted that there is increasing consensus among African leaders and institutions that deeper economic integration offers the most viable path toward sustainable continental development.

“There’s an overwhelming understanding and acceptance that economic integration is the way forward for Africa in terms of giving our economies the scale for industrialization, manufacturing, intra-African trade and creating jobs,” Otchere-Darko said.

According to him, the continent’s fragmented economies, largely shaped by colonial-era borders, continue to limit trade expansion and economic opportunities, particularly for Africa’s rapidly growing youth population.

“If we have an integrated economy of 1.5 billion consumers, then we’ll be going somewhere. But if we remain as fragmented as we are, it will continue to arrest our development and detain our progress,” he stated.

Otchere-Darko further pointed out that Africa already has the legal framework required to achieve integration, referring to the Abuja Treaty as the roadmap toward establishing a continental single market.

“The Abuja Treaty gave ourselves 2028 to have a single market. It’s just two years away,” he said.

He also highlighted the growing importance of digital integration, particularly the need for mobile money interoperability across the continent to broaden economic participation.

“Mobile money interoperability across the continent is absolutely critical because the digital market is one of the biggest ways of creating inclusivity for women, youth and rural communities,” he added.

Chief Executive Officer of the African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) , Manuel Moses, also emphasized the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area in expanding trade among African countries.

He noted that the agreement has the potential to unlock significant economic opportunities by reducing barriers and encouraging greater cross-border commerce across the continent.

According to him, intra-African trade remains significantly lower compared to other regions of the world.

“Other regions are trading in the order of 60 percent of their GDP. The equivalent number in Africa is 16 percent, so we have a long way to go,” Moses said.

He added that strengthening trade and investment across the continent could unlock the potential of Africa’s 3.5 trillion USD economy while creating employment opportunities for millions of young people.

The CEO also highlighted the importance of financial instruments that can unlock investment across African markets.

Moses explained that ATIDI provides political risk and credit insurance to investors, enabling them to secure financing and expand investments in African economies.

“ATIDI is a pan-African initiative, and I’m proud to say that Ethiopia is a member of our organization alongside 23 other countries,” he said.

According to the CEO, the institution is already supporting projects in Ethiopia, particularly in the telecommunications sector, and is exploring opportunities to expand its support for infrastructure development in the country and across the region.

“We are already actively working in Ethiopia on several projects that we have done in the telecoms, and we are looking forward to also support infrastructure projects in the country and across the region,” he stated.

The African Trade & Investment Development Insurance is a regional multilateral insurer that offers political risk and credit insurance to investors and lenders operating across Africa, aiming to promote trade, infrastructure development and sustainable economic growth in its member states.