This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
On July 17, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta called on African governments to promote seamless continental integration to boost prosperity and create enough jobs for the youth.
Speaking at the 21st COMESA International Trade Fair and High-Level Business Summit in Nairobi, the President emphasized that all efforts to increase integration and intra-Africa trade must seek to generate decent and well-paying jobs for the hundreds of millions of Africa’s youth.
The summit, themed “Powering Regional Integration through Trade,” was attended by three other Heads of State, including Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Edgar Lungu (Zambia), and Paramasivum Pillay Vyapoory of Mauritius, as well as Deputy President Dr William Ruto.
President Kenyatta noted that Africa is a young continent, with about 60% of its population under 25 years. He emphasized that continental integration will also be beneficial to Africa’s Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) and not the large corporations alone.
He called for more efforts to diversify and add value to raw materials produced in Africa instead of the continent being a source of raw products for the rest of the world.
“Africa is a young continent, with about 60 per cent of our population under 25 years. All our efforts to increase intra-Africa trade must also seek to generate decent and well-paying jobs for the millions of educated, talented, and energetic young people on our Continent,” said the President.
