Lucy Muchoki CEO PanAAC and coordinator of the Kenya Agribusiness and Agroindustry Alliance shared her views in the plenary hall at the African Union during the just ended Resakks /IFPRI General Assembly on How to Boost Intra-African Trade in Agricultural Products and the Challenges, Opportunities and Implications for Smallholder Agriculture
She summarized up by saying time for talk is over in Africa,we need to walk the talk!
More than ever before Africa need to embrace intra- African trade and add value to their goods to fetch good prices for their produce and create more jobs for the youth.
She decried the difficulties being faced by Africans In the exports Markets,
She gave the example of the effect of EPA negotiations and other regulatory compliance occassionally being imposed on the traders.These issues can only be dealt once and for all if we truly focused on the African intra-trade.
Africa intra trade is approximated at 10% while with the rest of the world is over 40%.
Recognizing the challenges facing the continent such as poor infrastructure and other policy related issues,Ms Muchoki said we must keep up the momentum of intra- Africa trade though different approaches.
She gave the good example of the Kenya National of Chambers of commerce and Industry who are leading their constituents on great missions, business to business negotiations around and within the continent.
She singled out the support from president Uhuru Kenyatta to the business fraternity.She praised his passion of embracing African intra-trade by leading from the front.
She also mentioned how His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta is supporting the private sector through the KEPSA led presidential roundtables.He listens ,reasons out and offers support to the private sector by addressing different issues faced in their respective sector.
She urged the African Leaders to emulate president Uhuru Kenyatta and work closely with their business leaders in unlocking the potential of African Agricultural development.
She recognized and praised the new found African leadership, unlike in the past,are committed in delivering development for their respective countries.
As president Obama once said,Africa does not need strong men it needs strong institutions.
Indeed,African has come of age from a ‘hopeless continent’ as once refered to ‘African rising’
Lets rise by investing in African intra-trade,this way,we secure the future of our children
The session was chaired by Dr Abebe,the Directer for Agriculture and rural Economy and moderated by Robson Mutandi, regional Director,IFAD
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