Addis ababa: The 3rd African Job Creation Forum would be held in Addis Ababa from July 7-9, 2025, marking a resounding success in galvanizing efforts to address the continent's employment challenges through agricultural innovation and agro-industrialization, Minister of Labor and Skills, Muferiat Kamil remarked.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Muferiat Kamil, while briefing the media about the event, emphasized the vital role of the forum in driving a dynamic and inclusive future for Africa's agricultural economy. She noted that the event served as a catalyst for change, underlining the urgent need for sustainable employment for millions of young Africans who are joining the workforce. She described this challenge as both an economic and social-political imperative for Africa's stability and prosperity.
The forum is set to take place under the theme "Advancing Job Creation and Economic Resilience through Regional Integration, Digital and Financial Inclusion along Agricultural Value Chains in the AfCFTA Market." Co-organized in collaboration with the Ethiopian government, the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and the AeTrade Group, the event is expected to bring together Africa's leading policymakers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders.
Aligned with the 5th Africa Integration Day on July 7th, the forum will emphasize key priorities such as advancing AfCFTA implementation, ratifying the Free Movement of Persons Protocol, and establishing African Union Financial Institutions, which are essential steps for building a resilient economic future.
Muferiat highlighted the potential of digital platforms, financial services, and AfCFTA protocols in unlocking unprecedented employment opportunities, particularly for underserved populations in agricultural value chains. She stated that agro-innovation could transform agriculture into job-creating engines through technology and value addition, while inclusive finance and insurance expand capital access for SMEs and farmers, driving growth.
She concluded by reiterating the forum's vision to unite visionaries and decision-makers in unlocking Africa's vast demographic dividend and untapped agricultural potential. By aligning policy, investment, innovation, and regional collaboration, especially within agricultural value chains, the forum aims to shape a brighter, more prosperous future for all Africans.
The success of the 3rd African Job Creation Forum sets a powerful precedent for continued progress in transforming Africa's employment landscape, she concluded.