President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Dr Sidi Ould Tah, has called on African countries to view current global trade disruptions as a historic opportunity to transform their economies.
Tah on a statement, made the call during the 13th edition of the Confédération générale des entreprises de Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI )Academy, in Abidjan
The theme of the event is ‘Economic sovereignty: Time for Action’.
He said Africa must strengthen regional value chains, process more of its abundant raw materials locally, and build resilience through green industrialisation.
According to him, the continent’s economic transformation cannot be driven by governments alone but must place the private sector at its centre.
The AfDB president outlined a four-pillar strategy for Africa’s future, including mobilising large-scale capital, reforming Africa’s financial architecture, accelerating job creation, and building climate-resilient infrastructure.
“For Africa, this is not a threat; it is a historic opportunity to establish a stronger, more integrated and more resilient local economy,” he said.
Ivorian Prime Minister Robert Mambé, urged African leaders and entrepreneurs to move beyond self-analysis and take bold action to achieve economic sovereignty.
He emphasised the need for intelligent and dynamic partnerships that leverage Africa’s strengths while addressing its weaknesses.
Business leaders at the gathering, including Ahmed Cissé, President of the CGECI, pledged to work closely with the AfDB and other partners to restore economic sovereignty, promote youth entrepreneurship, and expand intra-African commerce.
