Niger leaders push for faster african economic integration at biashara afrika 2026

At the third edition of the Biashara Afrika forum in Lomé, Faure Gnassingbé, Chair of the Council, urged African nations and business leaders to move beyond declarations and accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The event, focused on intra-African trade and investment, brought together policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs from across the continent.

In his address, Gnassingbé emphasized the need to shift from ambitious visions to measurable outcomes that benefit ordinary citizens. “The era of planning must give way to an era of delivery,” he stated, stressing the urgency of translating economic strategies into tangible progress.

Turning Africa’s potential into economic momentum

The forum, co-organized by the Togolese government and the AfCFTA Secretariat, serves as a platform to foster regional collaboration and strengthen value chains. Gnassingbé highlighted Africa’s growing advantages: a vast consumer market, abundant natural resources, a young workforce, and the unified legal framework provided by the AfCFTA. He called for greater efficiency in public policies, targeted investments, and streamlined trade facilitation to unlock the continent’s economic potential.

The Togolese leader also positioned Togo as a model of economic integration in progress. He pointed to the country’s expanding logistics infrastructure, including the deep-water port in Lomé, alongside reforms aimed at improving the business environment and attracting foreign direct investment.

Overcoming hurdles to continental trade

Despite progress, significant challenges persist. Non-tariff barriers, infrastructure gaps, limited financing options, and the underrepresentation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in cross-border trade continue to hinder Africa’s economic cohesion. The Biashara Afrika 2026 forum aims to address these obstacles by fostering partnerships, mobilizing capital, and developing practical solutions to convert Africa’s economic promise into inclusive and sustainable growth.