I.A.M - Magazine - Page 9
LEADERS CORNER
THE INTEGRATE AFRICA
MOMENTUM IS SOARING.
IT IS IRREVERSIBLE.
Africa's future prosperity hinges on our ability to transcend the artificial boundaries that have
historically fragmented our continent. At the African Development Bank Group, we recognize that
regional integration is not merely an economic strategy - it is the cornerstone of Africa's
transformative agenda.
T
By Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade
Senior Vice President
African Development Bank
08 |
he AfDB's regional integration strategy is
shaped by its decentralized structure, which
enables a closer alignment with the needs of
member countries. With 43 regional, country
and liaison offices, the AfDB maintains an
extensive presence across Africa, enhancing its capacity to work directly with partners and support integration
efforts on the ground. This proximity enables us to
design context-specific solutions while facilitating
cross-border coordination.
Through our strategic presence across Regional
Member Countries (RMCs), the Bank is catalyzing
integration that delivers tangible benefits to Africa's 1.5
billion citizens. Our approach is both comprehensive
and targeted, addressing the critical bottlenecks that
have constrained intra-African trade.
Infrastructure development remains the foundation of
our integration efforts. The projects featured in this
inaugural edition of Integrate Africa Magazine (I.A.M) –
such as the power pools; transport corridors, port
infrastructure and many more, exemplify this approach.
The Bank’s investment in transport corridors across the
continent is dramatically reducing transit times and
logistics costs—spurring trade and empowering
communities, especially women.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the AfDB is also
pioneering digital integration. By harmonizing regulatory frameworks and expanding broadband connectivity,
we are creating digital highways and a borderless
ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs and innovators across the continent, especially our driven and
