Mbabane – United Nations Resident Coordinator George Wachira has urged African leaders to move from discussions to action in order to unlock the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area. He was speaking at the opening of the 31st Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts for Southern Africa held at the Royal Villas Hotel in Ezulwini.
The meeting, organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, is being held under the theme “Unlocking AfCFTA’s Potential: Building Value Chains and Overcoming Barriers to Trade in Southern Africa.” Delegates from across the region gathered to explore ways to promote industrialisation, value addition and stronger regional cooperation.
Wachira said the discussions were timely as global economic shifts continue to underline the importance of regional trade and cooperation. He said African economies needed to move from policy planning to implementing practical solutions that would strengthen trade and production across the continent.
He asked delegates to reflect on how regional value chains could be developed and how trade barriers could be addressed both within Southern Africa and across the continent. Wachira said limited economic diversification and underused industrial capacity remained key challenges, adding that trade reforms must lead to tangible results that can stimulate real growth.
He noted that Eswatini has made notable progress in regional trade, pointing out that manufactured goods now account for nearly 80 percent of the country’s total exports, which is higher than the continental average. Wachira said Eswatini’s achievements and its strategic location within the Southern African Customs Union and the Southern African Development Community make it well positioned to serve as a regional production hub.
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Southern Africa Subregional Director Eunice Kamwendo outlined four priority areas to accelerate regional progress. She said Southern Africa needs to improve infrastructure to reduce business costs, promote industrialisation through harmonised policies, remove non-tariff barriers that restrict trade, and support a transition to greener and more resilient economies.
Kamwendo urged member states to translate commitments into measurable outcomes. She said the Intergovernmental Committee should not remain a platform for discussion only but must become a tool for accountability and tangible progress in the region’s economic transformation.
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