By: Robert
Kwaku Annor
African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretary-General Wamkele Mene has joined senior Angolan
government officials to officially open the 41st Feira Internacional de Luanda
(FILDA 2026), highlighting the role of local manufacturing and continental
trade in Africa's economic transformation.
Mene attended the opening
ceremony in Luanda as the Guest of Honour of the Government of Angola alongside
Minister of State for Economic Coordination José de Lima Massano and Minister
of Industry and Commerce Rui Miguêns de Oliveira.
The event, held under the
theme "Produce and Innovate Locally, Win Globally," showcases
products manufactured, processed and developed in Angola, underscoring the
country's growing industrial capacity.
During the opening, the
officials toured exhibition stands featuring locally produced goods while
emphasising the importance of expanding market opportunities for African
manufacturers through the AfCFTA.
The Secretariat said the
continental trade agreement provides the framework for African-produced goods
to move more freely across borders, creating opportunities for businesses to
access a single market of approximately 1.4 billion people.
According to the AfCFTA
Secretariat, intra-African trade reached approximately US$220 billion in 2024,
representing a 12.5 percent increase compared to the previous year as more
trade facilitation mechanisms under the agreement become operational.
The Secretariat stressed
that the success of the AfCFTA will depend on the ability of African businesses
to invest, produce and trade across the continent, with enterprises playing a
central role in unlocking the opportunities created by the agreement.
Mene's visit to Angola will
also include engagements with the country's productive sector and participation
in the 3rd Africa Blue Economy Week as part of efforts to promote regional
economic integration and industrial development across Africa.
