The Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr Taiwo Afolabi, has advocated for greater integration of economic investment into global conflict-prevention efforts, saying infrastructure, employment, trade and economic opportunities can help tackle structural factors that leave societies exposed to instability.
Afolabi made the call in New York, United States, during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Global Executive Roundtable on Diplomacy, Multilateralism and Conflict Resolution. He said the international community should shift its focus from responding to conflicts after they occur to giving greater attention to preventive diplomacy, sustainable development and economic inclusion.
He said peace and prosperity reinforce each other. This was contained in a statement issued by the firm on Sunday.
“Peace creates the environment for investment, investment creates opportunity, and opportunity strengthens the foundations of peace,” he said.
According to Afolabi, the world is facing a combination of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, climate pressures, inequality and declining confidence in institutions.
He said addressing these challenges would require a coordinated approach centred on diplomacy, multilateralism, conflict resolution and sustainable economic development.
Afolabi said the connection between peace and development was especially significant for Africa, where infrastructure gaps, financing limitations, trade barriers and restricted economic opportunities continue to influence the continent’s development prospects.
“Africa’s peace-building agenda must be accompanied by an investment agenda. We need investment in transport infrastructure, ports, energy, technology, manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, education and human capital,” he said.
He further called for stronger regional value chains and better connectivity among African economies, noting that the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area requires more than the establishment of trade agreements.
He said, “Trade and connectivity can create shared interests among nations. The success of AfCFTA depends not only on trade agreements but on infrastructure, efficient logistics, digital systems, financing and political cooperation.”
Afolabi also highlighted the contribution of the private sector to building economic connections that can promote cooperation among communities, businesses and countries.
Reflecting on SIFAX Group’s operations across maritime, logistics, aviation, financial services, oil and gas and hospitality, he said infrastructure and connectivity should be regarded not only as commercial activities but also as key elements of economic development.
“A functioning logistics system can connect farmers to markets, manufacturers to consumers, businesses to international value chains and countries to one another,” he said.
He added that such economic connections can create shared interests and incentives for cooperation, positioning infrastructure as an important part of a wider peacebuilding strategy.
NASTV AFRICA
Manifesting Africa’s Greatness
