Okonjo-Iweala urges swift action to unlock Africa’s regional trade opportunities
World Trade Organization Director‑General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala has called for immediate reforms to unlock Africa’s trade potential, warning that it costs African countries *about 20 % more* to trade with each other than with nations outside the continent. In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, she said the inefficiency undermines the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to boost intra‑African commerce and industrial integration.“It costs 20 % more for us to trade with each other on the continent than with others externally. Something is wrong with that. We need to bring our average costs down,” she emphasized.
Despite possessing 30 % of the world’s mineral resources and 67 % of its arable land, Africa faces persistent hurdles such as inadequate infrastructure, high transport costs and unstable electricity supply. “We have to deal with several challenges. Investing in infrastructure is certainly one of them. Lack of infrastructure, ports, electricity, connectivity is the number one issue,” she explained.
Africa’s economy is projected to grow around 4 % in 2025, roughly one percentage point above the global average. However, Okonjo‑Iweala stressed the need to better harness human capital. By 2050, Africa will host 2.5 billion people, accounting for 22 % of the world’s working‑age population, a demographic advantage that could reshape the global economy if youth are well‑educated and tech‑savvy.
“You can’t just say we have people, therefore we are rich. They’ve got to be skilled. We’ve got to be up with technology and AI,” she added.
She highlighted the surge of innovation among Africa’s youth, especially in fintech, agritech, health tech and the creative industries, describing them as the continent’s most valuable asset. “Young people in fintech are inventing new things. In agritech, companies are helping farmers do better. In health tech and the creative industries, African music and creativity are flourishing,” she said, asking, “If we have young people who are this creative, how do we support them better?”
Despite current challenges, Okonjo‑Iweala reaffirmed confidence in Africa’s resilience and its potential for inclusive growth. “I’m not trying to run away from challenges, Christian. I’m just excited to be African and to be Nigerian because of what I see.”
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