The call resonated with urgency and clarity. At the launch of the third edition of the Biashara Afrika panafrican forum on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Lomé, Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé urged African leaders to move beyond political rhetoric and prioritize tangible economic outcomes that could drive sustainable growth and deeper continental integration.
Lomé is solidifying its reputation as a hub for pragmatic African commerce. On that Monday, the Togolese capital welcomed a high-profile gathering of continental decision-makers for the third edition of Biashara Afrika. Organized jointly by the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Togolese government, the forum brought together top-level stakeholders to explore trade and investment opportunities across the continent.
President Gnassingbé used his opening address to issue a rallying cry to his peers: “The era of vision must now give way to an era of results.”
The Togolese leader framed Africa’s economic future as a decisive turning point. He emphasized the continent’s collective capacity to turn political ambition into economic reality, declaring that the age of hesitation and delay had come to an end.
Togo: a living laboratory for the AfCFTA
Rather than relying solely on theoretical frameworks, the Togolese head of state showcased his country’s strategic roadmap as tangible proof of progress. Positioned at the heart of West Africa, Togo is leveraging its infrastructure to become a key player in the AfCFTA:
- Strengthening regional connectivity to streamline trade corridors.
- Serving as a logistics powerhouse anchored by its deep-water port—the only one of its kind in the subregion.
- Implementing bold structural reforms that have earned widespread acclaim for improving the business climate.
Through this model, Lomé is demonstrating how economic integration can yield immediate and measurable benefits—provided political will aligns with the needs of businesses.
Daunting figures, persistent challenges
The AfCFTA represents one of the most ambitious economic projects ever undertaken. This transformative initiative seeks to unite a market of unprecedented scale:
AfCFTA by the numbers
- 55 signatory member states.
- A consumer base of 1.4 billion people.
- A combined GDP estimated at $3.4 trillion.
Yet this promising vision confronts stubborn obstacles. Biashara Afrika’s mission is to dismantle the bottlenecks stifling intra-African trade. Key priorities include removing non-tariff barriers, closing chronic infrastructure gaps, and easing access to financing. Participants also stressed the need to streamline fragmented value chains and integrate Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), which remain largely excluded from cross-border trade flows.
From promises to action: Biashara Afrika’s pivotal role
“We must shift from intentions to concrete outcomes,” declared a Kenyan entrepreneur at the forum, echoing President Gnassingbé’s urgency. A Nigerian economist added: “The AfCFTA will only gain credibility if SMEs are fully included in this unified market.” These perspectives reflect the pressing demand for swift, inclusive implementation.
Beyond technical discussions, Biashara Afrika embodies a broader geopolitical ambition: an Africa determined to assert itself in global trade. The AfCFTA is seen as a strategic response to globalization challenges and escalating international trade tensions.
The message from Lomé is uncompromising: Africa now possesses the legal frameworks, natural resources, and human capital needed to succeed. For the AfCFTA, the challenge is no longer about designing the future—it is about executing it.
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