REGIONAL INTEGRATION : Pro Meet Up Opens Its 5th Edition with a Focus on Integrative Corridors and African Value Chains

As Africa accelerates the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), regional infrastructure is emerging as one of the continent’s most powerful drivers of economic transformation. It is within this context that the fifth edition of Pro Meet Up (PML5) will officially be launched on June 1, 2026, in Yaoundé during a Regional and National Institutional Kick-Off held under the theme: “Integrative Corridors, Catalysts for the Development of Sub-Regional Value Chains.”

The event seeks to position transport, logistics and trade corridors as strategic instruments for enhancing Central Africa’s competitiveness. Beyond their mobility function, these infrastructures are increasingly regarded as tools for wealth creation, local value addition and the development of regional value chains.

Ports, highways, railways, multimodal logistics platforms, integrated payment systems and special economic zones are now at the core of public policies pursued by governments across the sub-region. From Douala and Kribi to Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville, as well as N’Djamena, Bangui and Libreville, several large-scale projects are being implemented to strengthen economic connectivity among member states of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).

For the organizers, the challenge is no longer to demonstrate the relevance of these corridors but to accelerate their capacity to deliver tangible economic results. The objective is to boost trade, facilitate the movement of goods, attract greater private investment and support the emergence of competitive industries across the region.

The outlook appears particularly promising. According to estimates by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the full implementation of the AfCFTA could increase intra-African trade by more than 50%, and by as much as 100% if non-tariff barriers are significantly reduced. By 2045, trade among African countries could exceed current levels by more than 34%.

Financing this transformation will also be a key focus of the discussions. Initiatives led by Afreximbank and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) reflect the growing commitment of African financial institutions to facilitating cross-border transactions in local currencies and reducing the costs associated with intra-African trade.

Through this fifth edition, Pro Meet Up aims to bring together governments, regional institutions, technical and financial partners, investors, logistics companies, port operators, manufacturers and private-sector stakeholders around a common ambition: transforming Central Africa into a more integrated, competitive and value-generating economic space.

At the forefront of this initiative is Carole Mbessa Elongo, a business leader and specialist in African economic integration. For several years, she has championed a vision based on stronger synergies between the public sector, financial institutions and businesses. Her ambition is to contribute to the emergence of a Central Africa that is more connected to the continent’s major economic dynamics.

This fifth edition builds on the momentum of previous Pro Meet Up gatherings, which have gradually become a recognized platform for dialogue among policymakers, investors and development stakeholders. The fourth edition notably deepened discussions on regional competitiveness mechanisms, economic cooperation and the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA for African businesses.

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Tressy CHOUENTE

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