The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has launched the inaugural Integrate Africa Forum during its 2026 Annual Meetings, bringing together governments, development partners, and private sector leaders to accelerate regional integration, industrialisation, and intra-African trade.
Held in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, under the theme “Made in Africa. Trade in Africa,” the forum focused on strengthening cooperation to expand production, improve cross-border trade, and support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to create a single market of over 1.3 billion people across Africa.
The event brought together representatives from the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, and major development finance institutions including Afreximbank and the Trade and Development Bank Group. Participants emphasized the need to align policies, improve trade infrastructure, and expand financing for African businesses to enhance competitiveness and industrial growth.
Speakers highlighted the opportunities within key sectors such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and mining, noting that improved regional value chains could significantly increase manufacturing and trade within the continent. Business leaders and entrepreneurs also shared experiences on scaling African brands and expanding cross-border operations under AfCFTA frameworks.
The forum also spotlighted efforts to remove barriers to intra-African mobility and trade, including initiatives to improve visa openness and ease of movement for business and investment purposes. Discussions referenced ongoing efforts to track progress through tools such as the Africa Visa Openness Index, developed by the AfDB in collaboration with the African Union Commission.
In addition, the Bank Group unveiled the second edition of Integrate Africa Magazine, focusing on trade and regional integration as key drivers of economic transformation. The publication showcases investments and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening Africa’s economic connectivity.
AfDB officials stated that the forum will become an annual platform to monitor progress in Africa’s integration agenda, with a focus on expanding trade corridors, strengthening industries, creating jobs, and fostering partnerships that support long-term economic resilience and prosperity across the continent.
