Morocco pushes industrial integration as AfCFTA seeks to unlock Africa’s economic potential

Morocco renewed calls Saturday for the accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), warning that trade among African nations remains far below its potential despite the creation of the world’s largest free trade zone.

Speaking at the Marrakech Parliamentary Economic Forum, Mohammed Ould Errachid, president of Morocco’s House of Councillors, said the AfCFTA could generate an additional $450 billion in income across Africa and help lift approximately 30 million people out of extreme poverty if fully implemented.

The AfCFTA, signed in Kigali, Rwanda, in March 2018 and officially launched in 2021, unites 54 African countries into a single market encompassing about 1.4 billion people and a combined economic output exceeding $3.4 trillion.

The agreement aims to boost economic integration by reducing tariffs, streamlining border procedures and eliminating barriers to trade. Under the framework, participating countries plan to remove tariffs on 90% of goods traded within the continent.

However, despite the scale of the initiative, trade among African countries remains limited. According to data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), intra-African trade accounts for only about 15% of the continent’s total trade.

The figure remains significantly lower than in other major economic regions. Intra-regional trade represents roughly 60% of total trade in Asia and about 70% in Europe.

As a result, African economies continue to conduct much of their trade with external partners, including Europe, China and the United States, rather than with neighboring countries.

Economists attribute the gap to several structural challenges. Many African countries continue to depend heavily on exporting raw materials while importing manufactured goods. Since neighboring economies often produce similar commodities, opportunities for regional trade remain limited.

Infrastructure and administrative barriers also continue to hinder commerce. Businesses frequently face lengthy customs procedures, excessive paperwork and inadequate transport networks, all of which increase costs and slow the movement of goods across borders.

Moroccan officials argue that deeper industrial integration is essential if the continent is to realize the full benefits of the free trade area.

At the forum, Omar Hejira, Morocco’s secretary of state for foreign trade, said Africa must move beyond simply exchanging goods and instead focus on producing them collectively through industrial partnerships, investment and technology transfers.

Morocco sees the AfCFTA as a strategic framework for strengthening African manufacturing, developing regional value chains and reducing the continent’s dependence on external markets.

Officials at the forum emphasized that while tariff reductions are important, the long-term success of the agreement will depend on the ability of African countries to build competitive industries, improve connectivity and create conditions that encourage cross-border investment and production.

For Morocco, the challenge is no longer the creation of the free trade area itself, but ensuring that its economic promise translates into tangible gains for businesses and citizens across the continent.