Advancing economic empowerment for African women

The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently committed to engaging the African continent in advancing economic empowerment for African women following US Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to Zambia. In an exclusive interview with CNBC Africa, Godfrey Mutizwa spoke with Borge Brende, the President of the WEF, about the challenges and opportunities for Africa in the 21st century. Brende expressed optimism about Africa's future while acknowledging the existing challenges. One of the key topics discussed was the importance of digital access and connectivity for the continent. With around 2.7 billion people worldwide lacking digital access, Brende highlighted the need to accelerate efforts in providing affordable and accessible digital tools to African populations. Through the WEF's Edison initiative, Brende mentioned that they have already reached out to 30 to 40 million people and pledged to reach an additional three countries by the end of the year, with a global goal of reaching 1 billion people by 2025. The conversation also touched on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which Brende described as a transformative opportunity for the continent. He emphasized the need for increased intra-African trade and investment and highlighted the hurdles that currently hinder trade within the continent. The WEF is actively working with the AfCFTA Secretariat to address these challenges and promote trade facilitation among African nations. The interview also delved into the shifting global dynamics, particularly the competition between the US and China. Brende acknowledged the fierce competition between the two superpowers but expressed optimism that it does not need to lead to trade wars. He suggested that Africa, Europe, and other countries could play a constructive role in mediating tensions and ensuring a stable global economy. Overall, the interview shed light on the WEF's commitment to driving economic empowerment in Africa and the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing the continent's challenges.