Morocco has been unanimously elected to lead the 57th session of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Conference of Ministers, focusing on advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at the session in Addis Ababa, Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade Riyad Mezzour reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the AfCFTA, emphasizing its potential to reshape Africa’s economic landscape. Addressing African finance and development ministers, Mezzour described the AfCFTA as more than a legal framework, calling it a transformative initiative for the continent’s future.
“The AfCFTA is the challenge of our generation,” Mezzour stated, urging African nations to take decisive action to ensure the agreement fulfills its potential amid evolving global economic conditions.
Since rejoining the African Union in 2017, Morocco has positioned itself as a crucial link between North and Sub-Saharan Africa, blending traditional strengths with modern innovations. Mezzour stressed the importance of moving beyond raw material exports and reducing reliance on imports, advocating for stronger regional value chains that would enhance Africa’s competitiveness in the global market.
He cited Morocco’s industrial strategy as a model, particularly in the fertilizer industry, where the country supplies over 20 percent of global demand. He argued that Africa has the potential to become a leader rather than merely a supplier of raw materials.
Additionally, Mezzour highlighted Morocco’s expanding role in automotive manufacturing, referencing the Morocco-DRC-Zambia electric mobility initiative as evidence that Africa could establish itself in the global electric vehicle industry. He also emphasized the need for industrial sovereignty, urging African nations to optimize resource utilization for sustainable economic growth.
Stressing the importance of fairness and sustainability within the AfCFTA, Mezzour noted that Morocco already generates 45 percent of its energy from renewable sources and expressed readiness to share its expertise in green energy, industrial development, and digital transformation to benefit other African nations.
He also pointed to Africa’s infrastructure challenges, which cost the continent an estimated 2 percent of its GDP annually. To address this, he proposed the creation of an AfCFTA Infrastructure Fund to finance essential transport networks, including ports, railways, and roads, to boost intra-African trade.
Finally, Mezzour underscored the need for economic transformation in key sectors such as agriculture, advocating for climate-smart policies that support farmers while fostering entrepreneurship among women and young people in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).