Over the years, the African Union (AU) has made significant strides toward achieving its vision of unity and prosperity in the African continent. I had a moment to reflect as we celebrated the 60th anniversary of Africa Day on Thursday, May 25, 2023, an event commemorating the founding of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1963. 

The AU anchors its efforts to economically integrate Africa on initiatives such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063. As an expert in bilateral Trade and Investment, it is pertinent to remark on the strides made by the AU, which remain critical to the growth of individual member-state economies working together to achieve the vision of the African Union.

Reflecting on the progress made so far, I see why the AU conceived Agenda 2063, a strategic plan of seven (7) key aspirations developed by the African Union (AU) to drive the growth and development of the continent, addressing some of the persistent challenges African nations have faced and achieve a prosperous and thriving Africa that fully realizes its potential by 2063. 

Today, we focus on the first and second aspirations of Agenda 2063.

• The first is a prosperous Africa based on inclusive economic growth and sustainable development aiming to achieve high production levels and value addition in various key sectors such as agriculture, industry, and services.
• The second aspiration is an integrated continent with free movement of people and goods, leading to a vibrant market and increased intra-African trade, which could boost growth and job creation.

Agenda 2063 is undoubtedly a bold and ambitious plan that outlines the vision of a prosperous and united Africa for the future. Achieving AU Agenda 2063 goal of increasing Africa’s share of global trade from 2% to 12% will require action and commitment from all stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society. When we come together in transparency and with a collaborative spirit, our efforts to help the AU achieve its goals and targets for 2063 are not bogged down. With a strong commitment to the aspirations of Agenda 2063, Africa can realize its full potential in the years ahead. Let’s put all hands on deck!