Algiers: While chairing the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), hosted by Algeria, the President made a precise assessment of Africa’s economic situation and presented his vision to harness the continent’s potential, which remains, he said, “excluded from international economic decision-making due to its marginalization within the majority of international economic, trade, and financial institutions.”
According to Algeria Press Service, the President highlighted Africa’s small shares in these institutions, recalling that its voting rights at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) do not exceed 6.5%, the lowest within that organization, while its share at the World Bank does not exceed 11%. Regarding the World Trade Organization (WTO), he noted that despite Africa achieving the position of Director-General for the first time, the continent’s influence in decision-making within the WTO remains limited.
He also addressed Africa’s minimal share in world trade, stating it barely exceeds 3%, which is disproportionate to the continent’s resources, which account for 30% of the world’s natural resources. With a population of over 1.5 billion, the President emphasized that Africa is a significant emerging market.
The President pointed out that Africa’s share of global investment flows is only 94 billion dollars per year, the lowest globally. Furthermore, he noted that intra-African trade remains limited to 15%, compared to 60% for intra-European trade, depriving African economies of growth opportunities and job creation for youth.
Discussing the lack of infrastructure in transport, energy, communication, and financing, the President urged that these challenges should motivate African countries to mobilize collective capacities and transform the continent into a development success. He highlighted Algeria’s efforts to address these issues, including several major structural projects like the Trans-Saharan road, a gas pipeline linking Algeria and Nigeria, and the Trans-Saharan fiber optic backbone project, as well as launching air and maritime connections between African capitals.
Reaffirming Algeria’s solidarity with other African countries, the President mentioned that Algeria has contributed to training 65,000 African executives since its independence and grants 8,000 scholarships annually to African students to access advanced education in fields like mathematics, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
He concluded by stating that Africa represents the future, with its youthful population contrasting with other continents experiencing aging phases.