Johannesburg, South Africa – 3 October 2024. The Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, was honoured with the prestigious Broad Pool of Ideas (BPI) Foundation Award. During the ceremony, H.E. Mene delivered a keynote address titled “Transformative Industrialisation and Effective Implementation of the AfCFTA as Catalysts for Africa’s Sustainable Development,” emphasising the critical role the AfCFTA plays in driving Africa’s economic transformation.

In his speech, H.E. Mene highlighted the importance of shifting Africa’s economic structure from the export of raw materials to the production of value-added goods, a move that is key to sustainable growth and increased global competitiveness. He reiterated the AfCFTA’s transformative potential, not just as a trade agreement, but as a strategic tool for industrialisation and inclusive development across the continent.

The event was attended by notable African leaders, including H.E. Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique, and Zanele Dlamini Mbeki, former First Lady of South Africa. Both dignitaries acknowledged H.E. Mene’s leadership in driving the successful implementation of the AfCFTA, which is expected to contribute significantly to Africa’s long-term sustainable development goals.

The Broad Pool of Ideas Foundation, a South African non-profit organisation, is dedicated to promoting societal transformation through its initiatives. The award presented to H.E. Mene recognises his visionary leadership and the strides made under his guidance in unifying African markets through the AfCFTA.

This recognition further underscores the significant milestones achieved in advancing African trade, and reinforces the AfCFTA’s role as a key driver of Africa’s industrial and economic future.