Our Correspondent | Africa Guardian
The European Union (EU) continues to be Africa’s largest trading partner and primary export market, according to Norwegian Ambassador Tone Tinnes. Speaking at the 28th annual research workshop of REPOA, an economic research institution based in Dar es Salaam, Tinnes highlighted that EU imports from Africa reached €367 billion in 2023—a 27% rise since 2013. This trade accounts for 33% of Africa’s total exports, affirming the EU’s role as a crucial market for African goods.
Ambassador Tinnes also commended Africa’s progress in boosting regional trade through economic blocs such as the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). These regional collaborations, she noted, are pivotal in expanding intra-African trade and fostering economic resilience.
Despite positive global trade trends, Tinnes observed that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has severely disrupted supply chains, increased the cost of living, and raised food and energy prices worldwide, affecting both Tanzania and other African nations. She added that the current energy crisis hampers efforts to combat climate change, impacting both nature and society globally.
Trudy Hartzenberg, CEO of the Trade Law Center (TRALAC), noted that while Africa’s trade with the EU remains strong, intra-African trade still represents only 16% of the continent’s total trade volume. Hartzenberg pointed out that significant value addition to Africa’s raw materials, such as critical minerals and agricultural products, still largely occurs outside Africa.
Dr. Donald Mmari, Executive Director of REPOA, emphasized the need for collective action among African countries to remove trade barriers and enable sustainable growth. This year’s workshop also marks REPOA’s 30th anniversary, celebrating its contributions to poverty alleviation and economic research.
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