The 2025 edition of the Forum will focus on the development of regional value chains (RVCs) and special economic zones (SEZs) in the livestock, agriparks and pharmaceutical sectors across Africa.
It will spotlight initiatives by governments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), financial institutions, and the private sector to promote value addition, deepen backward and forward linkages, foster sustainable industrialization, leverage advances in modern technology, create jobs, and increase food security on the continent. In addition, the 2025 Africa Business Forum will raise awareness about investment opportunities on the continent with the view to mobilizing investments for the development of regional value chains and special economic zones in the livestock, agriparks and pharmaceutical sectors across Africa.
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Thank you very much. You were talking about concrete actions. Well, we've had a dialogue, a rich dialogue. Let's have an action now. I'm going to ask— I know that you're very busy, Your Excellencies— but just ask 5 minutes of your time to act as witnesses for the signing of an MOU, a very important, significant Memorandum of Understanding between the Economic Commission for Africa and the AFCFTA Secretariat. So what I'm going to ask— you've done these before, I'm sure— Most of the time you're the guys who are signing, but in this instance I'd like you to actually be the witnesses. So what I'm going to ask all but the Secretary-General of the AFCFTA is for you to stand up and step to the back so that we can witness the signing, if you would. Thank you very much. I'm also going to invite 3 more witnesses: the President, His Excellency the President of Ethiopia. Please give them a round of applause. And I think I should invite our sponsors and your keynote speaker, the, the president of Africa Finance Corporation and also the secretary general of BADIA, I see here, who are the sponsors of ABF 2025. So 3 more witnesses. If I could then ask all the presidents to stand and if I could ask Wamkele Mene to take the middle seat. The President of the General Assembly is also here. I would be remiss not to invite him also to join as a witness. And those are the witnesses, so please join us as well.
Thank you.
What a fantastic picture. So what you're witnessing here is a memorandum of understanding between the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the AFCFTA Secretariat. Now, this landmark agreement aims to strengthen the joint efforts of both institutions in advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area implementation and fostering economic integration across Africa. It is, of course, signed by Klaver Gatete, Executive Secretary for the Economic Commission for Africa and Under-Secretary-General of the UN, and His Excellency Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AFCFTA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And for the picture, I was remiss. The Deputy of the African Union Commission, I apologize, madam, I forgot to call you. I make 3 mistakes in every forum. This is mistake number 1. So please join us for the photo. I'm allowed 2 more mistakes before 6 PM.
Thank you.
Now the family is complete, ladies and gentlemen, and the MOU is signed. Now, you probably noticed an amazing regional value chain exhibition downstairs. We're going to take a health break now, but don't stand up because I— if I could crave your indulgence, remain seated as I invite the heads of state and our speakers this morning to gently step down the stage where my colleagues will guide them for the first tour of the Regional Value Chain Exhibition. Once the dignitaries have left and gone on the exhibition, then we can all take a break and look at the exhibition too, which is where the tea and coffee is served. Oh yes, apologies, one more thing. I understand— I'm told that His Excellency the ECA Secretary-General would like to make a few words. I have a microphone It's not working. Okay, you can take this.
Yeah, yeah, thank you very much. I, I just wanted just to take this opportunity to thank our leaders here, and I think from what you have heard, really, the urge for us to implement the CFTA is very, very clear. We just signed this agreement, the MOU, to make sure that we can really participate fully in terms of implementing the CFTA, which I've been talking about for a long time. We know what we are supposed to do. And when I was looking around, I was looking at the money. I saw that TDB is right here. We saw the AFC is here. The Afreximbank is here. The African Development Bank is here. And we saw BADEA, which has been financing many projects, is also here. But at the same time, this is the first time that you have an opportunity where even the World Bank, the 3 vice presidents are from Africa for the World Bank. The head of the IFC for the first time is from Africa, and the head of the WTO for the first time is also an African. I don't know what is missing for us to be able to implement what we are supposed to do, and that's why we need to make this year the year for the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area. Thank you so much.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Now, if I could ask all of you to remain seated and invite the heads of state and dignitaries, our speakers this morning, to gently step down the stage. If someone could assist the ladies in high heels, please, where my colleagues will guide them for the first tour of the Regional Value Chain Exhibition. For the rest of us, let's just remain in our seats for a few moments. And then we can join them. I would, though, ask— I noticed the governor of Oyo State, Sheikh Makinde, and the governor or the deputy governor of Kilifi County. Maybe you want to also join the dignitaries in the tour of, I think, 16 regional value chains from across companies across Africa have made their way to this wonderful city to show them and to talk to you about their products and how they are plugging into value chains.
Thank you very much.
So please remain seated.
