PS Wagunda urges Africa to prioritise sustainable innovation to unlock trade potential

Public Investments Principal Secretary Cyrell Wagunda has implored African countries to prioritise sustainability, innovation, and regional integration, saying these are key drivers to unlock Africa’s trade potential and position the continent as a powerhouse in the global economy.

He noted that significant strides have been made towards harnessing the vast opportunities within African territorial waters, as seen in the development and operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Wagunda made the remarks during a panel discussion titled “Extending Intra-African and Global Trade Routes – Port and Airport Infrastructure Development” on the sidelines of the 15th Africa Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Infrastructure Finance, Investment and Partnership Summit held in Windhoek, Namibia.

The summit, themed “Promoting an Enabling Environment that Accelerates the Implementation of Sustainable and Viable PPPs,” brought together governments and policymakers from across Africa to discuss ways of accelerating investment on the continent.

The PS observed that Africa’s extensive coastline of over 40,000 kilometres, spanning 32 countries, offers immense potential for maritime trade within the continent and beyond.

He said Kenya has continued to expand and modernise the port of Mombasa to enhance its cargo-handling capacity. The port, he noted, serves several neighbouring landlocked countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia.

“Besides creating gateways for intra-African trade and access to global markets, investment in efficient ports also establishes engines of economic growth. Ports reduce logistics costs, accelerate trade, and create much-needed employment opportunities for our people,” said Wagunda.

He further emphasised that airports play a central role in enabling trade, tourism, and business development.

“Africa’s airports are equally critical since, just like seaports, they link our countries together and to global markets. It is noteworthy that the continent holds the greatest potential for air transport growth globally due to its large population,” he said.

“However, air transport growth remains constrained by infrastructure gaps and regulatory limitations that must be addressed,” he added.

Wagunda said the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is a bold initiative aimed at creating a unified African airspace while enhancing connectivity, efficiency, and safety.

“Several countries have already embraced this initiative, but open skies alone can’t bring the desired transformation. We need quality investment in airport development coupled with enabling regulatory regimes,” he concluded.