One of the focal points of the Ifrane Forum, which focused on economic diplomacy, was the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is expected to play a key role in promoting African integration.
On October 18 in Rabat, Morocco, the Ifrane Forum launched the first session of its “Diplomatic Series” of roundtable discussions on “African Economic Diplomacy: Strengthening Cooperation through Diplomatic Strategies.” The event brought together diplomats from several African countries, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, Mauritania and Rwanda.
Numerous representatives of regional and international organizations also attended, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), the Moroccan Agency for he Development of Investment and Exports (AMDIE), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Discussions focused on the strategic role of economic diplomacy in promoting regional cooperation in Africa. The debates highlighted the importance of regional organizations, public-private partnerships and diplomatic efforts in strengthening economic ties across the continent.
Distinguished speakers included Jessica Muthoni Jackina, Kenya’s Ambassador to Morocco; Shakila Umtouni, Rwanda’s Ambassador to Morocco; Ahmed Ould Bahya, Mauritania’s Ambassador to Morocco; and Mamadou Koulibaly, Burkina Faso’s Ambassador to Morocco.
Each of them shed light on how diplomatic mechanisms can help strengthen regional economic ties.
Private sector leaders also participated in the discussions. Ashraf Tarsim, Director of the AfDB’s Rabat Office, recalled the Bank’s key role in financing Africa’s infrastructure, while Abdoulaye Diop, Chairman of the CGEM’s Africa Committee, and Abdessalam Alaoui Ismaili, CEO of Hightech Payment Systems (HPS), shared their perspectives on the private sector’s contribution to diplomatic efforts to promote economic cooperation.
One of the key themes of the event was the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is seen as an important lever for the continent’s economic integration. Idrissi Janati stressed that intra-African trade, which currently stands at only 15%, could reach 50% by 2030 if the continent fully exploited its resources. AfCFTA aims to create a single market of 1.5 billion people, increase intra-African trade by 52 percent by 2030 and create millions of jobs, opening up unprecedented economic opportunities.
Discussions also highlighted the importance of infrastructure in supporting economic growth. Participants agreed that a significant improvement in infrastructure across the continent is a prerequisite for deeper regional integration.
Morocco’s development initiatives, such as the Royal Atlantic Initiative, were highlighted as examples of structuring projects that are likely to strengthen African economic integration.
The roundtable concluded with a commitment to further explore the role of economic diplomacy in the continent’s development. Future sessions of the Ifrane Forum’s “Diplomatic Series” will focus on practical strategies for accelerating growth and promoting regional cooperation, involving both the public and private sectors, to foster economic integration in Africa.
The Ifrane Forum, known for its Africa Trade and Investment Summit, is an essential platform for dialogue and collaboration to promote trade and investment on the continent. It is supported by the I-Afrika network, which brings together over 1,000 members from 30 African countries and the Diaspora.
RT/sf/ac/lb/gik/APA