世界經(jīng)濟(jì)論壇-加快全球商業(yè)和非洲投資的行動(dòng)計(jì)劃（英）-2024.1

IncollaborationwiththeAfricanContinentalFreeTrade

Area

SecretariatAn

Action

Plan

toAccelerate

GlobalBusinessand

Investment

in

AfricaW

H

I

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E

P

A

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4Images:GettyImagesContentsForeword34PrefaceExecutivesummaryIntroduction571

Agricultureandagro-processing2

Transport

andlogistics3

Automotive91721253031334

Pharmaceuticals5

ConclusionContributorsEndnotesDisclaimerThisdocumentispublishedbytheWorldEconomicForumasacontributiontoaproject,insightareaorinteraction.The?ndings,interpretationsandconclusionsexpressedhereinarearesultofacollaborativeprocessfacilitatedandendorsedbytheWorldEconomicForumbutwhoseresultsdonotnecessarilyrepresenttheviewsoftheWorldEconomicForum,northeentiretyofitsMembers,Partnersorotherstakeholders.?2024WorldEconomicForum.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,includingphotocopyingandrecording,orbyanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem.AnActionPlantoAccelerateGlobalBusinessandInvestmentinAfrica2January2024AnActionPlantoAccelerateGlobalBusinessandInvestmentinAfricaForewordWamkeleMeneB?rgeBrendePresident,WorldEconomicForumSecretary-General,AfricanContinentalFreeTrade

AreaSecretariatAfricaisundergoingprofoundchangesastheregionbecomesmoreintegrated,acceleratedbytheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade

Area(AfCFTA)–asinglemarketrepresenting1.7billionpeopleand$6.7trillioninconsumerandbusinessspendingby2030.ThefullimplementationoftheAfCFTAagreementisprojectedtoincreaserealincomesby7%ornearly$450billion.BuildingofftheForum’s

inauguralinsightreport,AfCFTA:

A

New

Era

for

Global

Business

andInvestment

in

Africa,launchedinJanuary2023,thisactionplanannouncesinitiativesandcommitmentsfromindustryleadersinfourprioritysectorsoftheAfCFTA

Secretariat:automotive,agricultureandagro-processing,pharmaceuticals,andtransportandlogistics,whichhaveacombinedworthof$130billion.Bybringingtogether12Forumpartners,theactionplandeliversaboldandvisionaryblueprintforprivatesectorinvolvementinAfricathroughtheannouncementofspeci?cinitiatives,projectsandinvestmentstowhicheachcompanyhascommitted.Theyear2023,recognizedbytheAfricanUnionasthe“Year

of

theAcceleration

of

theAfricanContinentalFree

Trade

AreaImplementation”,hasbeena

turningpoint

for

operationalizing

this

transformative

trade

deal.MomentumhasbeenbuildingaroundcollaborationbetweentheprivatesectorandAfCFTA’s

nationalorganizations

as

they

work

together

to

catalyse

globalinvestmentinAfrica.Theseprojectsincludethemobilizationof?nancingforupgradinginfrastructureinthetransportandlogistics

sector,

thedevelopment

and

deployment

ofgreentechnologiesintheautomotivesector,

thecreationandexpansionofinitiativestomovemoreoftheagriculturevaluechaintothecontinent,andcommitmentbypharmaceuticalcompaniesto?veactionsthattargettheworkforce,innovation,?nance,policyandinclusivity.Astheinternationalorganizationforpublic-privatecooperation,theWorldEconomicForumremainscommittedto?ndingcommonsolutionsthatwillunlockglobalprosperityinAfrica.In2023,theForumcontinueditsworktohelpeasephysical,capitalanddigital?owsinAfricathroughcultivatingrichpublic-privatecollaborationanddialogue,facilitatinginformation-sharingandimplementingtradeandinvestmenttoolsincollaborationwiththeForumFriendsoftheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade

Area.We

applaudtheincrediblededicationthesecompanieshaveshownincreatingthesetimelyprojects.ThisactionplanisanimportantleapforwardtowardsseizingtheincredibleopportunitiesthattheAfCFTA

isunlockingforglobalbusinessandinvestmentasittransformsvaluechainsandeconomies.ThededicatedenergythathasfuelledthecreationofthisactionplanmustcontinueasForumpartnersimplementtheplansanddevelopmoreprojects.TheseambitiouscommitmentsfromleadingcompaniesonthecontinentsignaltopotentialinvestorsthatinvestmentinAfricacanlookforwardtoafutureofboundlessinnovationandinclusiveAfricanprosperity.Now,

aswelookaheadto2024andbeyond,theForumandtheAfCFTA

Secretariatarecommittedtofacilitateandaccelerateprivatesectorinvestmentonthecontinentbyleveragingthepowerofthefreetradearea.We

welcometheactionplan,whichwasco-createdbyForumpartnersandtheFriendsoftheAfCFTA

astheysignaltheirjointcommitmenttoshiftingbeyondstrategytowardsaction.AnActionPlantoAccelerateGlobalBusinessandInvestmentinAfrica3January2024AnActionPlantoAccelerateGlobalBusinessandInvestmentinAfricaPrefaceLandrySignéChidoMunyatiHeadofRegionalAgenda,Africa;GlobalLeadershipFellow,WorldEconomicForumExecutiveDirectorandProfessor,ThunderbirdSchoolofGlobalManagement,Washington,DC;Co-Chair,WorldEconomicForumRegionalActionGroupforAfricaTheForumFriendsoftheAfricanContinentalcommitmentofkeyForumpartnersincludingYara

International,Coca-Cola,WorldwideBrewingAlliance,ForumGlobalAllianceforTrade

Facilitation,DHL,Agility,DPWorld,AfricanAssociationofAutomotiveManufacturers(AAAM),OurNextEnergyandVolkswagen.FreeTrade

Area(AfCFTA),launchedattheWorldEconomicForumAnnualMeeting2022,bringstogether

representatives

fromover

60

countries,

chiefexecutivesandheadsofinternationalorganizationstosupporttheimplementationoftheAfCFTAagreementthroughpublic-privatecollaboration.Theactionplanhighlightsbroaderindustrygoalsby2030andthendivesintothecompanyprojectsthathavebeendevelopedtohelpreachthosegoals.Eachprojecthasitsownscope,partnership,valueproposition,strategicresourcesandtimeframewithspeci?cmilestonestobemetoverthenext1-6years.WhattheyshareisacommongoalofleveragingtheconsiderableopportunitiesthatstemfromtheAfCFTA

tocreatelocalvalueandaccelerateinvestment.AftertheJanuary2023launchoftheForum’sreportAfCFTA:

A

New

Era

for

Global

Businessand

Investment

in

Africa,the?rstreportofitskindonthebusinessopportunitiespresentedbytheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade

Area,globalpoliticalandbusinessleaders,alongwiththePresidentoftheWorldEconomicForumandtheSecretary-GeneraloftheAfCFTA,

calledforanactionplantobe?nalizedaheadoftheForum’s

AnnualMeeting2024todeliveronAfCFTA’s

promiseswithspeci?cgoalsandinitiatives.Ourhopeisthat,inreadingthisactionplan,youwillbeinspiredbytheboldactionsbeingtakenbyindustryleadersastheyleveragetheopportunitiesprovidedby

the

AfCFTA.Currentand

futureinvestorsandpartnerscanallbene?tfromseeinghowspeci?cprojectswillbeimplemented,inturninspiringfurtherprojectsinthecomingyears.TheForumwillcontinuetosupportitspartnersinexecutingtheseprojectsandscaling-uptheirimpact.Inresponsetothisrequest,weorganizedworkstreamsonthefourkeyindustrialsectorsofautomotive,agricultureandagro-processing,pharmaceuticalsandtransportandlogistics,withmultipleconveningsofthemostimportantplayersonthecontinentthroughouttheyear,

beginningattheAfCFTA

BusinessForuminApril2023.Theseconveningswereengagingandcollaborative,providing

industryleaders

with

an

opportunity

to

cometogethertoco-designtheinitiativesandprojectsthat

they

plan

to

implement

as

part

of

the

action

plan.We

sincerelythankallofthecollaboratorsinvolvedinthisactionplan,includingthecompanyleadership,respectivetradeassociations,theForumFriendsofAfrica,theAfCFTA

SecretariatandForumemployees.Thisplanisatestamenttotheirdedicationandleadershipdrivingtheimpactfulworkbeingdoneincollaborationbetweentheprivateandpublicsectorstocatalyseinvestmentinacontinentofin?niteopportunities.Thecreativity,ambitionanddeterminationthatcatapultedthesecompaniestothetopoftheirrespectiveindustriesweretangibleduringthesesessionsasinnovativeprojectswereconceptualizedandrealized.TheseprojectsshowcasetheAnActionPlantoAccelerateGlobalBusinessandInvestmentinAfrica4Executive

summaryThisreportpresentsinitiativesfrom

Forumpartnerstomaximizetheopportunitiesofanewfree

tradearea

acrossAfricainthefourkeysectorsofagriculture,transport,automotiveandpharmaceuticals.Introductionagricultureandagro-processingindustrytomeetdomesticfoodsecurityandultimatelybecomeaglobalfoodexporterby2050.AstheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade

Area(AfCFTA)continuestounlockopportunitiesforprivatesectorengagementinAfrica,theForumFriendsoftheAfCFTA

havebeentakingtheleadinforgingawayforwardfortransformativeoutcomesforcompaniesinvestingacrossthecontinent.InJanuary2023,theForumFriendsreleaseda?rst-of-its-kindprivatesectorinsightreport

whichaimstoprovidea

pathwayforglobalbusinessesandinvestorstounderstandthebiggesttrends,opportunitiesandstrategiestosuccessfulinvestmentandhighreturnsinAfrica,developinglocal,subregionalandcontinentalvaluechainswhileacceleratingindustrializationforfourkeysectorsidenti?edbytheAfCFTA

Secretariat.To

getthere,Forumpartnersareadjustingtheirstrategiesandimplementingprojectsthatcontributetolong-termfoodsystemtransformation.IndustryleaderssuchasCoca-Cola,Yara

InternationalandtheWorldwideBrewingAlliancehaveprovidedvaluableinsightsandcommitmentsthattheForumplanstosupport.EachoftheseinitiativestargetsapartoftheagriculturevaluechainthatwillbeaffectedbyincreasedtradeundertheAfCFTA.Someoftheinitiativespro?ledfocusonleveragingtheAfCFTA

ordrivingitssuccessfulimplementation(e.g.theForum’s

GlobalAllianceforTrade

Facilitation,Coca-Cola’s

MangoHub),whileotherstargetstrengtheningvariouspartsofthevaluechainsuchasincreasingtheuseoflocalrawmaterials(e.g.CocaCola,WorldwideBrewingAlliance–WBA)andproducingfertilizers(e.g.Yara

International).Meanwhile,somepartnerstargetkeyenablerssuchas

developing

digital

farming

technologies

and

buildingskills

for

farmers

includingwomen

and

youth

(e.g.

YaraInternational,WBA).HeadsofStatehavenowaskedtheForumtodeliveranactionplanthatsummarizeswheretheseindustriesaregoingandwhatactionsForumpartnerswilldointhecomingyearstoturnthetransformativeopportunitiestheAfCFTA

offersintotangiblereality.Buildingontheinsightreport,theForumhascompiledacollectionofstrategicinitiativesandcasestudiesfromForumpartnersthatwillserveasthebasisfortheForum’s

privatesectorengagementintheshortandlongterm,basedonthefourindustriesoffocus:agricultureandagro-processing,transportandlogistics,automotiveandpharmaceuticals.TheimplementationoftheseinitiativeswillrelyonavarietyoffactorsthattheForumcanhelpsupport,includingmulti-stakeholderparticipation,public-privatepartnershipsandinnovative?nancing.Agricultureandagro-processingTransport

andlogisticsTheagricultureandagro-processingindustryplaysacriticalroleinAfrica’s

economictransformation.Byexpandingthevaluechainonthecontinent,theindustrycanmeetthegrowingdemandforfoodexpected,asthecontinent’s

populationincreasesAstradevolumesincreaseduetotheAfCFTA,thetransportandlogisticsindustryisinhighdemand,leadingtoimportantopportunitiesfortheprivatesector.

To

meetrisingdemandinfreight,airandmaritimetransport,Forumpartnerswillplayacriticalroletoconnectlocalandinternationalcompaniestothecontinentalmarket.byanestimatedonebillionpeopleby2050.1Opportunitiesaboundinagriculture’s

longvaluechain,whetherfromfertilizersandirrigationforfarming,orvalue-addedprocessing,throughstorageanddeliverytotheendconsumer.

Therearealsoopportunitiestoinvestininnovativeandtechnology-drivenactivitiesonthecontinent,especiallyinareasofsustainableagriculture.Overall,ForumpartnersareworkingtowardsthegoaloftransformingtheKeyForumpartnersonthecontinentinthissectorhaveannouncedinitiativesthatsupportsmallandmedium-sizedenterprises(e.g.DHL),helpfacilitatetrademoreeffectivelythroughnewandupdatedinfrastructure(e.g.AgilityandDPWorld)andattractmoreforeigninvestmentintheindustryacrossAnActionPlantoAccelerateGlobalBusinessandInvestmentinAfrica5Africancountries(e.gAgility).Theseprojectsrangefrommillion-dollarinvestmentsinports,warehousesandlogisticscentresacrossthecontinenttoprogrammesdesignedtodevelopskillsforstudentsandbusinessprofessionalsinvariousareasfrompackingandbrandingtosupplychainmanagement.strategybeingimplementedwithawiderangeofpartnerstodrivecompatiblenationalpolicies,tomorespeci?cprojectsthatfocusonthedevelopmentanddeploymentofnewtechnologiesforEVs(e.g.OurNextEnergy)andprojectsthatfocusonautomobilemobileapplicationsandinnovativepartnershipssuchasusingEVsforsustainablefarming(e.g.Volkswagen).Together

theseprojectsaredrivingtheaccelerationofprivatesectorengagementintheautomotivesector.Thesuccessoftheseprojectswouldbeimpossiblewithoutcooperationbetweenstakeholdersandthepublicsector,

especiallyconsideringthescaleofinvestmentforsomeoftheinfrastructureprojectsandtheirneedforgovernmentcooperation.TheForumwillbeahelpfulpartnerinfacilitatingdialogueandtrackingtheprogressandoutcomesoftheseprojectsonabroaderlevelforthebene?tofthesecompaniesandthecontinent.Thiscollaborationisalreadyatwork.Forexample,Agility’s

“InspiringFDIandMultinationalAccesstoAfrica”initiativeisaglobalcampaigntoaddressconstraintstoFDIandtradeinpartnershipwithpartnersonthecontinent

including

the

Forum,

the

AfCFTA

Secretariat,chambersofcommerceandothers.TheForumwillalsobeacriticalpartnertoscaletheimpactofalloftheseprojects,especiallyasnewlybuiltportsandinfrastructureprojectscanbeleveragedtohelpotherkeyindustriesthattheForumisfocusingontotransporttheirgoodsacrossthecontinent.PharmaceuticalsTheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsandtheAfricanUnion’s

Agenda2063callforstrengtheningpublichealththroughalocalinnovativepharmaceuticalindustry.ThroughtheharmonizationofregulationsandtheliftingoftradebarriersprovidedbytheAfCFTA,

thepharmaceuticalindustryhasincrediblepotentialtodevelopquicklytomeetlocaldemand.To

reachthisgoal,Forumpartnersareengaginginmulti-stakeholderdialoguesandimplementingnewinitiatives.Forexample,thePartnershipsforAfricanVaccineManufacturing(PAVM)

heldaforumin2023whichbroughttogether147representativesfrominternationalandAfricanvaccineindustriestoacknowledgeprogressandpaveawayforwardforthenextfewyearsinpursuitofthe2040productiongoal.Theforumalsorecognizedbarrierstobeaddressedintheshortterm,includingskillsdevelopment,vaccinetechnologytransferandR&D.AutomotiveTheautomotiveindustryonthecontinentistakingoffduetotheAfCFTA,

withthepotentialformorecountriestobecomeinvolvedintheautomotivevaluechain.TheAfCFTA

andglobaltrendsareopeningnewopportunities,especiallytomovemorevalue-added

activities

to

the

continent

and

for

the

continenttobecomealeaderintheproductionofelectricvehicles(EVs).To

ensurethatlocalvalueadditionisattheforefront,theForumisworkingwithitspartnerstoreachagoalofmanufacturing4-5millionvehiclesby2035andincreasingmanufacturingplantsacrossthecontinent.Meanwhile,theInternationalFederationofPharmaceuticalManufacturersandAssociations(IFPMA)committedtoworkwiththeAfCFTA

tocreatetheecosystemneededtoaccelerateprogresstowardstheachievementofpharmaceuticalsectorcompetitiveness

and

sustainable

access

to

healthcarethroughmulti-stakeholderdialogue,engagementandactiveparticipationinallrelevantplatforms.Forumindustryleadersareworkingonprojectsthattargetawiderangeoffactorsrelatedtotheautomotiveindustrytoreachthisgoal.TheseprojectsrangefromtheAfricanAssociationofAutomotiveManufacturers’broadindustry-wideTheseprojectsandgoalswillevolveovertime,especiallyastheAfCFTA

continuestowardsfullimplementation.TheForumwillplayanimportantroleinhelpingtheindustryreachitsgoals,pavingtheway

for

a

resilienthealth

system

acrossthe

continent.AnActionPlantoAccelerateGlobalBusinessandInvestmentinAfrica6IntroductionThenewfree

tradearea

thataimstounifyAfrica’s

55nationscouldcreateasinglemarketworth$6.7trillionby2030.WorldEconomicForumFriendsoftheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade

AreaTheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade

Area(AfCFTA)offerstheopportunitytounifythesmall,fragmentedmarketsof55separateAfricanstatesintoasinglemarketthat,by2030,wouldrepresent1.7billionpeopleand$6.7trillioninconsumerandbusinessspending.implemented,itcouldincreaserealincomesby7%ornearly$450billion.2IftheAfCFTA

agreementisfullyWithincomes,connectivity,dynamicyouthpopulationsandtradeintegrationontheriseacrossAfrica,itisclearthattheprivatesectorisbecomingincreasingly

awareofthetransformativeopportunitiesforbusinessacrosstheAfricancontinent.Asintra-Africantradeincreases,theimplementationoftheAfCFTA

isbringingnewopportunitiestocreatelocalvalueandstrengthensupplychains.3Of?ciallylaunchedin2021,theAfCFTA

couldalsoincreaseintra-Africanexportsby81%,providingtheopportunitytolift30millionpeoplefromextremepovertyby2035,accordingtotheWorldBank.4Byremovingbarrierstotrade,theAfCFTA

offersopportunitiesfortheprivatesectortodeveloplocalandregionalvaluechainsacrossthecontinent.However,

thepotentialbene?tstoAfricancountrieswillonlyberealizedifgovernmentseliminatetariffandnon-tariffbarrierstotradewhichwillincentivizeAspartofitsFriendsoftheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade

Areainitiative(seeBox1),theWorldEconomicForum

has

engaged

withprivate

sector

partnersto

gaininsightsintotheirunderstandingof–andstrategiesfor–makinguseoftheopportunitiespresentedbytheAfCFTA.ThisreportpresentssomecasestudiesfromsomeoftheForum’s

leadingpartnersinAfrica.businessestoutilizetheagreement.5BOX1

ForumFriendsoftheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade

AreaTheForumFriendsoftheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade

Area(AfCFTA)isaformalcollaborationbetweentheAfCFTA

SecretariatandtheWorldEconomicForum,launchedattheForumAnnualMeeting2022.Thecoalitionbringstogetherover60headsofstate,ministers,chiefexecutives,headsofinternationalorganizationsandexpertstosupporttheimplementationoftheAfCFTAagreementthroughpublic-privatecollaboration.InJanuary2023,theForumreleasedareportentitledAfCFTA:

A

New

Era

for

Global

Business

andInvestment

in

Africa,whichpresentedkeytrends,toolsandstrategiesrelatedtofourindustriescentraltotheimplementationoftheAfCFTA.

Thesefourindustries–automotive,agricultureandagro-processing,pharmaceuticals,andtransportandlogistics–werechosenduetotheircapacitytomeetlocaldemandacrossthecontinent,positioningthemwelltoseizetheopportunitiesofleveragingtheAfCFTA

toacceleratelocalproduction.Thereportpresentedimportanttrendsandprojectionsforthesefourindustries,complementedbyexistingtoolstonavigatetradeundertheAfCFTAandstrategiesfromleadingcompaniesthatarealready?ndingsuccessacrossthecontinent.Bydoingso,thereportshedlightonwhatthefutureofthesefourindustriescouldlooklikeandhowtheAfCFTA

shouldbeleveragedtogetthere.AnActionPlantoAccelerateGlobalBusinessandInvestmentinAfrica7BOX2

FourkeyindustriesforAfrica–projectionsundertheAfCFTAAgricultureandagro-processing:Intra-Africantradeinagricultureisexpectedtoincreaseby574%by2030,iftariffsareeliminatedunderAutomotive:TheindustryinAfricaisexpectedtogrowtomorethan$42billionby2027.8theAfCFTA.6Pharmaceuticals:TheAfCFTA

willhelpincreaseintra-Africantradeinpharmaceuticals,whichiscurrentlyextremelylow(only3%ofdemandismetbyintra-Africantrade),leadingtomoreresilientTransport

andlogistics:TheAfCFTA

isprojectedtoincreaseintra-Africantradedemandby28%,withdemandforalmost2milliontrucks,100,000railwagons,250aircraftandmorethan100healthsupplychains.9vesselsby2030.7Inthissecondreport,welookaheadtodevelopanactionplanmadeupofinitiativesandactionsthatForumpartnershavetakentoacceleratethegrowthoftheseindustriesandenhancetheircapacitytoseizetheopportunitiesofferedbytheAfCFTA

inthecomingyears.partnercompaniesoftheForumareundertaking.Asconsensusevolvesandstakeholdersinitiatemoreprojects,thisactionplanwillbeupdatedonanannualbasis.Thisreportpresentsinitiativesfromthefourindustrysectorsandisorganizedasfollows:TheactionplanshowcasesinitiativesfromkeyForumpartnerswithinthesefourindustries,eachwiththeirownuniquegoalsandpurposes.WhatbindsthemtogetheristheoverallpursuitofgoalssharedbytheAfCFTAandAgenda2063–

theAfricanUnion’sdevelopmentblueprinttoachieveinclusiveandsustainablesocio-economicdevelopmentovera50-yearperiod.10

Thesesharedgoalsinclude:Chapter1:Agricultureandagro-processing–initiativesfromcompaniesincludingTheCoca-ColaCompany,Yara

International,WorldwideBrewingAllianceAfricaBeerGroup(representedbyAnheuser-BuschInBevandHeineken)andtheForum’s

GlobalAllianceforTrade

Facilitation.Chapter2:Transport

andlogistics–initiativesfeaturingcompaniessuchasDHL,AgilityandDPWorld.–Increasingthevalue-addedactivityonthecontinent––CreatingsustainableandresilientvaluechainsChapter3:Automotive–initiativesfrompartnerssuchasVolkswagen,theAfricanAssociationofAutomotiveManufacturers(AAAM)andOurNextEnergy(ONE).Increasingintra-AfricantradebyreducingbarriersandstrengtheningsupplychainsByacceleratinglocalandcontinentalproductionandmanufacturing,theprivatesectorwillhelpboosttradeandacceleratebroaderdevelopmentgoals.Chapter4:Pharmaceuticals–initiativesandcommitmentfromtheInternationalFederationofPharmaceuticalManufacturers&Associations.BuildingfromindustryinputsandanalysisconductedfortheJanuary2023report,thisreporthighlightssomespeci?cinitiativesandactionsthatChapter5:Conclusion–adiscussionofthetools,waysandmeansfortheimplementationoftheseinitiatives.AnActionPlantoAccelerateGlobalBusinessandInvestmentinAfrica8Agriculture1andagro-processingAfrica’s

agriculturesectorhashugepotentialforgrowthandcouldbeworth$1trillionby2030,ifyieldsimproveandacontinent-widefree

tradearea

sweepsawayimporttariffs.Overview:projectionsandgoalsOfAfrica’s

51millionfarmers,80%aresmallholdersengagedinsubsistencefarmingonlandoflessthanonehectare(2.2acres),earningapproximatelytwoAgricultureplaysacrucialroleacrossAfrica,employingmorethanhalfoftheworkingpopulationandcontributing35%ofthecontinent’s

GDP.11Givenitscentralroleintheeconomy,agriculturewillbeaprimebene?ciaryofthenewlyimplementedAfCFTA,

whichwillhelpexpandintra-Africatrade,createjobs,meetlocaldemand,reducepovertyandaccelerateinclusivity.dollarsaday.12

Thecontinent’s

landsurfaceis60%arableland,butaround20%ofAfrica’s

soilsaredegradedandsufferfromtheworseningimpactsofacuteclimatechange.Asaresult,Africa’sagriculturalyieldsonlyreach25%offullpotential.Goal:InputproviderswillplayacriticalroleintransformingAfrica’sagriculturesector–notonlytohelpthecontinentachievedomesticfoodsecurity,butalsotobecomeaglobalfoodexporterby2050.AnimportantwaytounlockAfrica’s

agriculturalfoodandagriculturemarketcouldincreasefrom$280billionayearin2023to$1trillionby2030.16

Multiplepublicandprivatestakeholdersfromacrossthefoodvaluechainmustcometogethertoaddressthesechallengesandseizeopportunitiesforlocalproduction.potential,especiallythatofsmallholderfarmers,istodevelopanddeployaccessibleandaffordabledigitalagritechtools.Whilelarge,mechanizedfarmsmakeextensiveuseoftechnology,smallholdersoftenlackaccesstoinnovativetechnologiesthatrequirelargecostoutlays,negativelyaffectingproductivityandyields.Smallholderfarmersstillrelyheavilyonmanuallabour,

creatingmajorproblemsascropproductionlagsbehindmechanizedfarms.Collaborationsthroughpublic-privatepartnershipscanhelpsmallholderfarmersadoptdigitalsolutionstoadvancetheagriculturesectorinAfrica.PrivatesectoropportunitiesDespitechallenges,therearegreatopportunitiesforagriculture,giventheprojectedimpactoftheAfCFTA

andAgenda2063,whichenvisionsacceleratedagriculturalgrowthandtransformation,sharedprosperityandimprovedlivelihoods.17

By2030,intra-Africanagriculturaltradeisprojectedtoincreaseby574%ifimporttariffsareeliminated,comparedtoascenariowithouttheAfCFTA.18Meanwhile,Africa’s

foodandagriculturemarketcouldreach$1trillionbytheendofthisdecade,accordingtotheAfricanDevelopmentBank.19Onein?veAfricansiscurren