I.A.M - Magazine - Page 10
As we implement our
Ten-Year Strategy,
the AfDB remains
steadfast in its commitment
to an integrated Africa.
Most importantly, as a
people, the Africa we want
is united in purpose and
boundless in potential.
talented youth.
In West Africa, our support for the Senegambia Bridge
has reduced travel time between Dakar and Banjul from
days to hours. In Southern Africa, our investment in the
Kazungula Bridge has transformed a bottleneck
between Zambia and Botswana into a seamless transport corridor. In North Africa, the Nador West Med port
complex in Morocco is creating an integrated hub
connecting Africa to European and Asian markets.
These initiatives exemplify how strategic investments in
one country generate benefits that radiate across entire
regions. This multiplier effect is at the heart of the
Bank's regional integration approach—maximizing
development impact while optimizing resource utilization.
The hope-inducing African Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA) represents perhaps Africa's greatest opportunity to industrialize to global levels. The Bank is committed to supporting the AfCFTA implementation, focusing
on developing regional value chains in strategic sectors
including agriculture, manufacturing, and services.
Yet this positivity and optimism, though not misplaced,
does not mean the journey is without hurdles. Challenges certainly remain: Regulatory harmonization lags
behind infrastructure development. Non-tariff barriers
persist despite trade agreements. Security concerns in
certain regions impede the movement of people and
goods.
As we implement the Bank's Ten-Year Strategy and our
High 5s agenda, the African Development Bank remains
steadfast in our commitment to an integrated Africa.
Most importantly, as a people, the Africa we want is
united in purpose and boundless in potential, ensuring
prosperity for each and every African.
The #IntegrateAfrica momentum is soaring. It is
irreversible. Let us keep at it!
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