Ivorian Prime Minister, Robert Mambé, and African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Sidi Ould Tah, have urged Africa’s private sector to take a leading role in reshaping the continent’s economy, arguing that global trade disruptions offer a chance to strengthen sovereignty and regional value chains.
The two leaders delivered their remarks on Monday, September 29, 2025, at the opening of the 13th CGECI Academy, the flagship annual forum of Côte d’Ivoire’s employers federation, held under the theme “Economic sovereignty: Time for Action.”
The two-day gathering drew senior government officials, business leaders, and representatives of regional employers’ organizations.
“The time for self-analysis is over; it’s now time for action!” Mambé said.
“We must become aware of our strengths, our weaknesses and our untapped potential, and most importantly, we must establish a synthesis that consolidates our achievements for new prospects that are based on intelligent and dynamic partnerships.”
Mambé stressed that economic sovereignty depends on collective efforts by governments, private investors, young entrepreneurs and consumers.
AfDB President Ould Tah echoed the call, telling participants that Africa must transform global trade turbulence into a “historic opportunity” to process more of its raw materials domestically and build resilient regional markets.
“For Africa, this is not a threat; it is a historic opportunity to establish a stronger, more integrated and more resilient local economy,” he said.
Ould Tah, who took office Sept. 1, outlined a four-pillar strategy for Africa’s development: mobilizing large-scale capital, reforming financial architecture, accelerating job creation, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure through green industrialisation.
He underscored that governments cannot achieve this transformation alone. “They will also come from the African private sector, which must be central to the strategy,” he said.
The forum comes amid mounting protectionist policies and geopolitical tensions that have put multilateral trade frameworks under strain.
Many African leaders view the moment as critical for boosting intra-African commerce and reducing reliance on external markets.
Ahmed Cissé, president of CGECI, pledged the private sector’s support for continental efforts to restore economic and financial sovereignty through stronger institutional partnerships.
He pointed to the federation’s long-standing collaboration with the AfDB, including the La finance s’engage (Finance Commits) initiative, which has mobilised resources for hundreds of Ivorian start-ups since 2016.
The programme has supported more than 200 young entrepreneurs, nearly one-third of them women.
CGECI represents nearly 80 percent of Côte d’Ivoire’s private sector companies and has positioned itself as a key partner in advancing youth entrepreneurship and innovation on the continent.
By Winston Mwale, AfricaBrief