President of the Africa Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, says he is confident that Nigeria and every other country on the continent will sign the Africa Free Trade agreement. Speaking in South Africa today on the successes of the Africa Investment Forum, Adesina said different countries have their processes, but that everyone will come around.
Adesina said he believes Nigeria is doing the right thing by actually consulting with its private sector, and having the dialogue that they need to have before signing such deals. According to Adesina, the continental free trade area of Africa is going to be the largest free trade zone in the world after the World Trade Organization.
He noted that this free trade zone is going to increase the trade in Africa by about thirty billion dollars per year. Adesina said the agreement will also increase intra-Africa trade from roughly about fourteen percent today to fifty-three percent, as well as create massive jobs.
Forty-nine countries on the continent have signed unto the continental free trade agreement, including South Africa, and excluding Nigeria.