Public Investments Principal Secretary Cyrell Wagunda has urged African countries to prioritise sustainability, innovation, and regional integration as key strategies to unlock Africa’s trade potential and strengthen its role in the global economy.
Speaking during a panel discussion titled “Extending Intra-African and Global Trade Routes – Port and Airport Infrastructure Development” at the 15th Africa Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Infrastructure Finance, Investment and Partnership Summit in Windhoek, Namibia, Wagunda highlighted the need for African nations to harness their natural and infrastructural advantages to boost intra-continental trade.
The summit, themed “Promoting an Enabling Environment that Accelerates the Implementation of Sustainable and Viable PPPs,” brought together policymakers, investors, and government representatives from across the continent to discuss strategies for driving investment and sustainable development in Africa.
Wagunda noted that Africa’s extensive coastline—stretching over 40,000 kilometres across 32 countries offers immense opportunities for maritime trade both within and beyond the continent. He emphasized that leveraging this potential through sustainable port and airport infrastructure could significantly enhance Africa’s competitiveness in global trade.
Highlighting Kenya’s progress, Wagunda said the government has continued to expand and modernise the Port of Mombasa to increase its cargo-handling capacity. The port serves as a crucial gateway for several landlocked countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia.
He further commended the ongoing efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which he said provides a framework for unlocking intra-African trade through collaboration, innovation, and infrastructure development.
Wagunda reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive trade growth, noting that through public-private partnerships, African countries can build resilient infrastructure that fosters innovation, drives economic growth, and positions the continent as a major player in the global market.
