By Nana Achia Aboagye
SWAKOPMUND – Namibia’s Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, has called on African countries to fully embrace the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as the continent’s best opportunity to achieve economic sovereignty, industrialisation and sustainable development.
Speaking at the Invest in Africa Expo and Summit in Swakopmund under the theme, “Unpacking the AfCFTA and Access to Markets,” Ashipala-Musavyi said Africa must reduce its dependence on external markets and strengthen trade among African nations.
Addressing policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors and delegates from across the continent, the Minister said the summit was taking place at a critical time for Africa and the Global South.
“We are meeting at a time when rising geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures and protectionist measures are reshaping the global economy,” she said.
According to Ashipala-Musavyi, recent global economic developments have highlighted the risks associated with overreliance on foreign markets and reinforced the urgency of strengthening regional trade and economic cooperation.
Despite possessing abundant natural resources, vast agricultural potential and one of the world’s youngest populations, Africa continues to trade relatively little within its own borders.
“Intra-African trade currently stands at only about 16 per cent,” she said. “This is despite Africa having the world’s largest continental free trade area and enormous economic potential.”
The Minister stressed that the AfCFTA should not be viewed merely as a trade agreement but as a comprehensive framework for economic transformation and continental unity.
“The time for talking about Africa’s prospects and possibilities is over,” she declared. “Africa is now implementing one of the largest economic integration projects in modern history.”
She described the AfCFTA as Africa’s “last resort for economic sovereignty”, emphasising the need for countries to prioritise value addition, industrialisation and regional production networks.
“We must strengthen regional value chains, support local industries, add value to our raw materials and create jobs for our women and youth,” Ashipala-Musavyi said.
She also highlighted the importance of improving infrastructure, harmonising standards, reducing non-tariff barriers and investing in productive capacity to enable African businesses to compete effectively across the continent.
The Minister underscored the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), describing them as key drivers of innovation, employment and economic growth.
“SMEs are the backbone of our economies,” she said. “We must ensure they have access to finance, technology, information and market intelligence so they can take advantage of opportunities created by the AfCFTA.”
Providing an update on Namibia’s implementation of the agreement, Ashipala-Musavyi revealed that the country officially launched trading under the AfCFTA on June 30, 2025, with its first export consignment destined for Nigeria.
“Since then, Namibia has issued nine certificates of origin for exports to countries including Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria,” she said.
She added that Namibia has incorporated the AfCFTA into its national development priorities, including the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and the SWAPO Party election manifesto.
“This positions Namibia to benefit from a continental market of more than 1.4 billion people,” she said.
According to the Minister, the agreement offers significant opportunities for Namibian businesses, particularly SMEs, women-owned enterprises and youth-led ventures seeking access to larger markets beyond Namibia’s relatively small domestic economy.
She said Namibia is also strategically positioning itself as a regional logistics and trade hub through investments in transport infrastructure and trade corridors.
“Namibia’s geographic location, transport networks and ports provide a strong foundation for regional trade integration,” she said.
Ashipala-Musavyi singled out the Port of Walvis Bay as one of Africa’s most strategic trade gateways.
“Walvis Bay serves as a direct gateway to SADC markets and provides access for countries such as Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” she noted.
The Minister identified several sectors with strong export potential, including green hydrogen, renewable energy, agro-processing, fisheries, tourism, mining beneficiation, manufacturing, digital innovation, creative industries, and Namibia’s emerging oil and gas sector.
Addressing gender inclusivity in trade, Ashipala-Musavyi cited studies showing that women remain underrepresented in export value chains despite their significant contribution to economic activity.
“Women contribute only about 40 per cent of local value addition in exports in developing countries, while only around 15 per cent of exporting firms globally are women-led,” she said.
She stressed that empowering women entrepreneurs is not only a social objective but also an economic imperative.
“Women’s participation in trade is an economic necessity if Africa is to unlock its full potential,” she said.
The Minister praised initiatives such as the SheTrades programme for helping African women entrepreneurs gain access to international markets, export training, digital trade skills and global value chains.
Concluding her remarks, Ashipala-Musavyi called on Africans to unite behind the AfCFTA and ensure that women, youth, SMEs and local industries play a central role in the continent’s economic transformation.
“Let us work together to build a prosperous, integrated and self-sufficient Africa,” she said.
She reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to strengthening entrepreneurship, deepening regional cooperation and facilitating investment partnerships aimed at building a prosperous, integrated and self-sufficient Africa.
