Algiers, Algeria — Africa’s gross domestic product is projected to rise from USD 3.4 trillion to USD 15 trillion by 2035, driven by strategic investments in agriculture, industry, and services. Speaking at the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025, Patrick Ndzana Olomo of the African Union emphasized that trade-led industrialisation is central to this transformation.
He noted that annual growth rates of 7–10% are achievable if member states strengthen governance, infrastructure, and institutional capacity. However, Africa currently loses USD 587 billion annually to corruption and illicit financial flows—resources that could otherwise fund its USD 472 billion development needs.
The AU is working with Afreximbank and AfCFTA to unlock financing and streamline trade frameworks. With rising global demand for African goods—from minerals to manufactured products—the continent’s export and import sectors are poised to drive inclusive growth and regional integration.