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SIKHUPHE – Industrialising Africa, AfCFTA and e-commerce are the main topics to be discussed at the AU Extraordinary Summit in Niger, where the PM will represent the King.

This was revealed by the Prime Minister (PM), Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, before he left the country through King Mswati III International Airport yesterday afternoon, to Niger.

He said the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit on Industrialisation and Economic Diversification and AU Extraordinary Session on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will take place in Niamey, Niger. He said it would be held under the theme; ‘Industrialising Africa: Renewed Commitment towards Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialisation and Economic Diversification’.

The premier said they would discuss how as African countries they could improve industrialisation.

He said such discussions would look at what countries, like Eswatini, were doing in terms of industrialisation, where government was constructing factory shells. He added that the talks would also include encouraging countries to maximise returns by selling finished products.

Industrialisation

“The summit will also include a discussion on how African countries can have a budget for industrialisation and to capacitate the workforce so that they can maximise production,” the PM said. The PM said they would also have a session on how they could implement and maximise the AfCFTA, which would allow African States to trade with each other without paying duties. Once more, he said they would also talk about e-Commerce and since the King was the Chairperson of the African Electronic Group, he would deliver a speech on his behalf in that regard.