Davos, Switzerland, 21 January 2025 – On the margins of Davos 2025, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, participated in a high-level conversation at the Africa House Panel on Turning the Largest Single Market in the World into a 21st Century Global Powerhouse.

H.E. Mene highlighted the milestones achieved in the implementation of the AfCFTA, reaffirming that trade is actively taking place under the AfCFTA framework, as demonstrated by the issuance of Certificates of Origin by State Parties. He underscored the conclusion of all AfCFTA protocols as a major step in realising Africa’s economic integration agenda.

In his remarks, he also outlined the complementarity between the Protocol on Digital Trade and the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade, stressing their role in fostering inclusion and leveraging the digital economy to drive trade growth. He further encouraged the private sector to invest in trade-supporting infrastructure, which remains key to unlocking the full potential of the AfCFTA.

The panel provided a platform for engagement with global stakeholders on strategies to advance intra-African trade and position the continent as a competitive force in the global economy.