African finance ministers call for trade reform and increased development funding

African finance ministers are advocating for structural economic changes and increased financial support during the 2026 IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.

Eswatini Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg called for enhanced intra-African trade and a shift toward producing value-added goods to reduce reliance on imported finished products. He proposed an African Union initiative on strategic supply rights to allow countries to specialize in specific goods for regional supply. Eswatini is also working with the World Bank to strengthen its macro-fiscal position and access technical assistance.

Zambian Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane urged the World Bank Group to maintain International Development Association (IDA) support to help developing economies manage external economic shocks. He emphasized the need for concessional financing to drive productive investment and private-sector-led job creation. World Bank data indicates that private capital mobilized across Africa rose to US$22 billion in FY2026, up from approximately US$9 billion in FY2022.