The Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, has called on the United States and African governments and businesses to build a partnership that places production, not just trade, at the center of Africa’s economic future.
Speaking at the 2025 Corporate Council on Africa’s 17th U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Luanda, Angola, which was opened by Angola’s President and African Union Chairperson João Lourenço, Mene highlighted Africa’s drive to position itself as a competitive global trading bloc.
He highlighted the AfCFTA’s role in reshaping global trade and called for a partnership that accelerates production, manufacturing, and job creation, according to The Business & Financial Times.
“In this era of the AfCFTA, the conditions for a more dynamic and mutually beneficial partnership are firmly in place. The AfCFTA provides the strategic framework, Africa’s economic momentum offers the opportunity, and U.S.-Africa collaboration can deliver impactful outcomes,” Mene said.
He noted that Africa is focused on adding value to its natural resources, expanding manufacturing capacity, and generating decent, sustainable jobs across the continent.
The AfCFTA, he said, is working to achieve this by strengthening regional value chains, improving logistics, and removing barriers that hinder production and trade.
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Mene emphasized Africa’s vast renewable energy potential, from solar and wind to hydro resources and critical minerals needed for the global clean energy transition.
He urged strategic partnerships that prioritize sustainable energy infrastructure, green industrialization, and responsible, transparent value chains.
“We also have an opportunity to operationalize the green investment principles embedded in the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment, and to advance initiatives such as the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII), which aims to position Africa as a global hub for green manufacturing through value addition to its mineral wealth,” he said.
Highlighting Africa’s young population and rising digital connectivity, Mene described the continent as an emerging global center for innovation, entrepreneurship, and creative industries.
He stressed the need for investment in education, skills development, and digital infrastructure, along with ensuring that women and youth have access to finance, markets, and leadership opportunities.
“Collaboration in digital infrastructure, e-commerce, cybersecurity, and data governance will open new efficiencies in trade, enhance service delivery, and integrate African businesses into the global digital economy,” Mene said.
He also noted that as Africa accelerates AfCFTA implementation and deepens economic integration, continuity and predictability in trade programs such as the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) are essential.
Ambassador Troy Fitrell, Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, echoed Mene’s call, saying the U.S. and Africa must move beyond outdated one-way aid relationships to a modern partnership focused on trade and investment.
He pointed out that U.S. exports to Sub-Saharan Africa still account for less than one percent of total U.S. global trade in goods, a figure that has remained unchanged for decades.
President João Lourenço called on the U.S. to recalibrate its engagement with Africa, pivoting from aid to private investment.
“New dynamics show us it is time to replace the logic of aid with the logic of ambition and private investment,” he said.
“It is time to see Africa as a credible partner, rich in potential, in need of financial capital and know-how, and eager to join forces for mutual benefit.”
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Image Credit: B&FT
