Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan recently addressed the significant challenges hindering intra-Africa trade, calling for concerted efforts to remove these barriers and boost economic integration across the continent. Speaking at the Africa Trade Summit held in Dar es Salaam, President Samia underscored the importance of overcoming infrastructural deficits, regulatory obstacles, and tariff barriers to achieve seamless trade among African nations.
President Samia noted that despite the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to create a single continental market for goods and services, intra-Africa trade remains underwhelming due to persistent hurdles. She emphasized that inadequate transportation infrastructure, including poor road networks and inefficient ports, continues to impede the movement of goods across borders.
“Without addressing these infrastructural challenges, the full potential of the AfCFTA cannot be realized,” she said. “We need to invest heavily in upgrading our transport and logistics systems to facilitate smoother and faster trade flows.”
In addition to infrastructure, President Samia pointed out regulatory and non-tariff barriers as significant impediments to trade. She highlighted the need for harmonized trade policies and standards across African countries to simplify the process for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions.
“Regulatory discrepancies and non-tariff barriers create unnecessary complexities and costs for traders. Harmonizing our trade regulations will encourage more businesses to engage in cross-border trade,” she added.
President Samia also called for the reduction of tariff barriers that inflate the cost of goods traded within the continent. She advocated for a gradual phasing out of these tariffs to make African products more competitive and affordable.
“Reducing tariffs is crucial for making intra-Africa trade more attractive and beneficial. We must work together to lower these barriers and promote a more integrated and prosperous Africa,” she urged.
The summit, attended by key stakeholders from various African countries, provided a platform for dialogue on the necessary steps to enhance intra-Africa trade. Participants agreed on the importance of collaboration and collective action to tackle the challenges highlighted by President Samia.
As Africa continues to strive for economic integration and growth, President Samia’s call to address the barriers to intra-Africa trade resonates with the broader vision of a unified and economically vibrant continent. The emphasis on infrastructure development, regulatory harmonization, and tariff reduction sets a clear agenda for policymakers and businesses to work towards achieving the goals of the AfCFTA.
