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Achieving Agenda 2063 long, arduous, says Ahmed

With intra-African trade still below 18 per cent and Africa's global trade contribution at a mere four per cent, the road to achieving Agenda 2063 remains lengthy and arduous, Interim President, Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA), Engr. Mansur Ahmed, has said.

Agenda 2063, "The Africa We Want," is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming the continent into the global powerhouse of the future. It sets the stage for the African Union (AU's) economic development over five decades, from 2013 to 2063.

However, in his welcome address at the Second Executive Committee meeting and re-launch of PAMA on the sideline of the intra-African trade fair held in Egypt, November 14, Engr. Mansur lamented that achieving the Agenda is not a stroll in the park

“The road to "The Africa We Want" remains lengthy and arduous, with intra-African trade still below 18%, and Africa's global trade contribution at a mere 4%. Many African economies struggle with underdevelopment, low productivity, and minimal value addition, leaving a large portion of the population in poverty,” he said.

Engr. Mansur stated that since the inception of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in January 2021, PAMA has embarked on the journey towards achieving the goals of Agenda 2063.

Founded in 2018, with trade commencing on January 1, 2021, the AFCFTA is the flagship initiative aimed at realizing continental integration and creating the world's largest free trade area.

According to Mansur, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Egypt in 2018, an initiative by the African Union Commission (AUC) and Afreximbank, vividly represents the African market that AFCFTA aspires to build.

The PAMA chief said despite facing numerous challenges, “Significant strides have been made to advance Agenda 2063 since 2013, thanks to the dedication of African leaders, the AUC, and institutions like Afreximbank and the African Development Bank (AfDB).”

He, however, said to change this narrative, transformation was required across every sector, noting that one sector that stands out as critical for economic growth is manufacturing.

Justifying his choice of manufacturing as key transformation driver, Mansur said: “In the modern global economy, manufacturing accounts for around 70 per cent of global trade and more than 30 per cent of service jobs.”

He said to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063, African manufacturing must undergo a transformation and expansion, which, according to him, is no easy feat and cannot be left to chance.

“Both the public and private sectors must make sustained efforts to successfully implement AfCFTA and attain Agenda 2063's objectives,” he said.

Mansur, while noting that institutions like Afreximbank, AfDB, AFC, and others are already playing crucial roles in this effort, said it was essential for the private sector, particularly African manufacturers, to engage actively in fostering the necessary collaborations and partnerships for sector integration, expansion, and diversification.

“This is where PAMA must play a more prominent role in promoting the growth of the African manufacturing sector,” the Association’s helmsman said, noting that the idea of PAMA was conceived in 2018, thanks to the foresight and unwavering support of Commissioner Albert Muchanga, who promoted PAMA and superintended the establishment of an interim committee to bring it to fruition.

Engr. Mansur, however, said unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath hindered the effectiveness of the interim team's efforts, and the lack of institutional platforms in most African countries posed challenges.

“Nonetheless, there are ongoing efforts aimed at engaging as many manufacturers associations; manufacturing industries and other major companies as possible to position PAMA to contribute to the growth of the African manufacturing sector,” he stated.

He expressed optimism that PAMA will serve as a vital platform for accelerating the development of African manufacturing, effectively implementing the AfCFTA, and achieving the objectives of Agenda 2063. “Together, we can propel the continent towards the brighter future envisioned in "The Africa We Want," Mansur said.