Maputo hosted a high-level CEO Forum of the SADC Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) at the Hotel Avenida on Friday, 2 December, bringing together regional development finance leaders to deliberate on regional integration and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Organised by Gapi – Sociedade de Investimentos (Gapi-SI), the Forum was held under the theme “Implementing AfCFTA: Assessing the Readiness of the SADC Region and the Role of Development Finance Institutions.” Discussions centred on key enablers of integration, including infrastructure connectivity, investment frameworks, trade facilitation, and the development of financial systems to support AfCFTA implementation. A central focus was placed on how DFIs can more effectively mobilise resources and play a catalytic role in advancing this agenda.

The AfCFTA entered into force in May 2019, was formally launched at the 12th Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Niamey, Niger, in July 2019, and commenced trading on 1 January 2021. As the world’s largest free trade area, it brings together all 55 African Union member states and eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

As a flagship initiative under Agenda 2063, the AfCFTA aims to establish a single continental market of approximately 1.3 billion people, with a combined GDP of about US$3.4 trillion. It seeks to eliminate trade barriers, boost intra-African trade, and promote value-added production across key sectors of the African economy.

While the agreement presents significant opportunities for industrialisation, investment, and job creation, its successful implementation requires coordinated regional efforts. For the SADC region, this includes strengthening institutional readiness, enhancing competitiveness, and accelerating the development of regional value chains.

Development Finance Institutions play a critical role in this process by financing the private sector, which is increasingly recognised as a key driver of regional integration, while also addressing broader economic and social development priorities.

The Forum therefore provided a critical platform to assess progress, identify gaps, and align strategies to ensure that DFIs are well-positioned to unlock the full potential of the AfCFTA within the region.

Gapi-SI, a development finance institution with over three decades of experience, hosted the Forum as part of its continued commitment to promoting economic inclusion, innovation, and sustainable investment in Mozambique.