- Commits to ‘Made in Africa. Trade in Africa’
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group held an inaugural Integrate Africa Forum during its 2026 Annual Meetings, convening heads of development partners, corporate leaders and other stakeholders, to accelerate intra-African cofinancing, trade and policy harmonisation.
The forum took place on 28 May 2026 in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo under the theme ‘Made in Africa. Trade in Africa’.
Leaders representing the African Union Commission, and Regional Economic Communities attended, alongside government ministers and heads of the Trade and Development Bank Group, Afreximbank, African Trade and Investment Development Insurance and other DFIs.
The leaders welcomed the launch of the forum.
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi said: “In the SADC region, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and minerals offer huge opportunities to leverage the AfCFTA.” Jaqueline Lydia Mikolo, Minister of Trade, Supply Chains, Consumption and AfCFTA of the Republic of Congo, highlighted her country’s efforts to industrialise, and invited strategic investment.
AfCFTA stands for the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, the world’s largest free trade area bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) and eight Regional Economic Communities. The overall mandate of the AfCFTA is to create a single continental market with a population of about 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of approximately US$ 3.4 trillion.
ATIDI CEO Manuel Moses and Boitumelo Mosako, CEO, Development Bank of Southern Africa, also offered statements in support of boosting production in Africa.
Several entrepreneurs and business founders shared their experience.
Nigeria’s Ibukun Awosika – CEO of The Chair Centre Group, discussed the challenges involved in building African brands.
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