Focus Africa Trade and Investment Forum kicks off with bold calls for regional integration
Focus Africa 2025
CAIRO - 15 April 2025: The Focus Africa Trade and Investment Forum (Focus Africa) officially kicked off Tuesday in Cairo, bringing together African leaders, policy-makers, and private sector stakeholders under the theme: 'Unlocking Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Context of the AfCFTA.'
Held on April 15–16, the forum opened with a strong message from Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, who emphasized that 'Africa must now draw strength from within' as global powers reposition and traditional economic policies shift.
'Globalization is on life support,' Oramah warned, pointing to growing protectionism, particularly since the Trump administration, as a key factor reshaping global trade.
He added: 'If we integrate our markets, control our resources, and invest wisely in our development, we can create our own model of internal globalization — one that uplifts our people and drives sustainable growth.'
Oramah outlined Africa's economic trajectory, highlighting that while trade on the continent surged from $50 billion in 1985 to $1.4 trillion in 2020, intra-African trade still lags, accounting for only 15% of the continent's total trade. 'Despite a 600% growth in intra-African trade between 1995 and 2020, we must do more,' he said.
Addressing investment flows, Oramah noted that foreign direct investment to Africa has grown 18-fold since 1990, reaching $52 billion. However, investment has plateaued over the past decade, averaging only $2 billion per year. He warned against the dumping of excess goods from developed economies into African markets, which could harm local industries.
In her keynote address, Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat, underscored Egypt's commitment to positioning itself as a gateway for investment across the continent.
'Africa today stands at a pivotal moment,' she stated. 'The AfCFTA—the world's largest free trade area—represents an unprecedented opportunity for industrialization and economic growth.'
She highlighted that 63% of Egypt's investments now come from the private sector, driven by reforms and an improved business climate. Egypt aims to attract $60 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) and increase annual exports to $145 billion by 2030, leveraging its strategic location to become a regional trade and manufacturing hub.
Al-Mashat also introduced the Hub for Advisory, Finance & Investment for Enterprises (HAFIZ), a new digital platform that consolidates financial and advisory services, tenders, and business support tools for African enterprises. 'It is our way of bridging the information and accessibility gap holding back SMEs from scaling,' she explained.
Echoing the call for unity, Mohamadou Labarang, Dean of the African Ambassadors' Group in Cairo, stressed the importance of smart partnerships in the post-AfCFTA era.
'Africa is no longer just offering raw materials — we are offering innovation, ideas, markets, and a new generation of globally competitive business leaders,' he said. 'Let us shift from potential to performance, from promise to prosperity.'
The two-day forum continues with panels on industrialization, logistics, digital trade, and cross-border investment, as African leaders and businesses work toward building a stronger, more integrated continental economy.
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