Highlights from Africa Day 2023, celebrated alongside African Missions in Stockholm, Sweden – under the theme – “Bridging the Gap for a Better AfCFTA Implementation in the Nordics.”
The Africa Day 2023 celebrated African unity, the continent’s cultural diversity, economic potential, and political achievements. Held on Thursday, May 25th, 2023, at Fabriken in Stockholm, the event centred on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). A trade agreement aiming to establish a single market for goods and services in Africa, AfCFTA represents a significant opportunity to spur economic growth, reduce poverty, and create jobs across the continent.
The commemorative occasion was marked by an array of activities, which included speeches by H.E George Liswaniso, Ambassador of Namibia and Deputy Dean of Africa Group, Hon. Tobias Billström, Minister for Foreign Affairs and H.E Irina Schoulgin Nyoni, Head of Africa Department, MFA, Sweden; moreover, the event presented an opportunity for countries to showcase captivating video slide-shows opportunities in trade and investment, success stories from the African diaspora on key topics related to AfCFTA implementation; Ms Anne Eriksson, a Kenyan diaspora member and successful importer of Kenyan products, shared her experience as an entrepreneur based in this region, The audience got a chance to enjoy vibrant musical and cultural performances from different African Countries.
Speaking during the event, the guest of Honour, Hon. Tobias Billström, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden, reflected on the importance of Africa Day and Sweden’s relationship with Africa. In his address, he not only expressed Sweden’s support for the African Union’s 2023 focus on advancing the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, but also touched on several other pertinent topics related to Sweden-Africa development cooperations and Sweden’s long-standing relations with African Countries.
Kenya is and remains an active player in Africa’s economic integration initiatives. It shares the distinction, alongside Ghana, of being one of the inaugural nations to ratify and formalise their commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by depositing their instruments of ratification. Once fully operational, the AfCFTA pact will cover an estimated 1.3 billion people continent-wide with a revenue potential of approximately $3.4 trillion. In its role to make AfCFTA a reality, Kenya has taken the initiative to launch its National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy for the period of 2022-2027. For more insights into the strategy, visit: https://trade.go.ke/blog/598/
