Key Summit Highlights
Trade is Africa’s Plan A. There is no Plan B.
At the
#UGDevSummit2025, Prof. David Luke (LSE) highlighted how trade flows drive Africa’s development - bringing ideas, technology, jobs, competitiveness, and investment.
Despite global turbulence, Africa shows resilience:
12.4% intra-African trade growth (2023–2024, Afreximbank) to USD 220.3B 8.5% intra-African trade growth in 2024 (UN), vs. just 0.4% in exports to the rest of the world.
Africa’s rising middle class is fueling demand, but reliance on imports and fragmented EU trade regimes remain barriers to integration.
Trade must remain central to Africa’s transformation and prosperity.