PAP President Charumbira Champions Africa’s Digital & Economic Transformation at Key UNGA80 Forums in New York

The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E. Chief Fortune Z. Charumbira, is leading a PAP delegation to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), participating in high-level events designed to amplify Africa’s voice and accelerate its digital and economic transformation. During his engagements, President Charumbira emphasized PAP’s commitment to creating a favorable environment for African development through governance reform, strategic partnerships, and active participation in global value chains.

Forward Africa Leaders Symposium 2025

On 22 September 2025, on the sidelines of UNGA80, President Charumbira addressed the Forward Africa Leaders Symposium 2025, held at the iconic Nasdaq in New York. The event convened Heads of State, policymakers, global CEOs, and other leaders to drive forward Africa’s Digital Transformation Agenda.

He spoke on the panel titled “Making Governance work for Tech Innovation in deepening Africa’s Participation in Global Value Chains.” The discussion focused on how governance reforms such as coherent regulation, predictable tax regimes, and harmonized standards, can reduce barriers for African businesses scaling into higher-value production, services, and export markets.

Unstoppable Africa 2025 – GABI

President Charumbira also took part in Unstoppable Africa 2025, the flagship forum organized by the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI), on 21-22 September 2025. Hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the forum heralded a shift in the global narrative: from doing business in Africa to doing business with Africa.

Throughout the forum, PAP under President Charumbira’s leadership sought to promote awareness among participants of the African Union’s objectives, policy aims, and programmes. Key sectors that emerged as strategic focus areas included critical minerals; energy; healthcare; digital innovation; education; and the creative industries, which together shape the narrative of Africa as a driver of global growth.

Notably, GABI used its platform to launch two new Action Pathways: one focused on digital transformation and the other on healthcare, to align government, business, and innovation actors around sectors critical to Africa’s competitiveness and resilience.

PAP’s Mandate & Broader Implications

The Pan-African Parliament, as part of its continental mandate aims to:

• Strengthen solidarity, cooperation, and development across Africa.
• Promote peace, security, and stability.
• Pursue a common economic recovery strategy, especially by engaging with trade, investment, and regulatory regimes that facilitate inclusive growth.

President Charumbira's interventions at both the Forward Africa Leaders Symposium and Unstoppable Africa 2025 underline the importance PAP places on parliamentary diplomacy: shaping policy, governance, and international partnerships that support Africa’s journey toward an integrated digital economy and stronger participation in global value chains.

Key Takeaways

• Africa’s digital transformation and governance reform are central to unlocking greater trade, investment, and sustainable growth.
• Harmonized standards, predictable regulatory and fiscal environments, and coherent policies are needed to reduce barriers for African businesses.
• New multi-stakeholder initiatives (like GABI’s Action Pathways) are critical for aligning efforts in digital transformation and healthcare.
• PAP seeks to elevate Africa’s voice in global forums, promote AU policies and objectives, and help ensure that international investment and development agendas align with continental priorities.