Afolabi Advocates Economic Investment as Tool for Global Conflict Prevention
Kathy Kyari
Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, has called for greater integration of economic investment into global conflict-prevention strategies, saying infrastructure, employment, trade and economic opportunities can help address structural conditions that make societies vulnerable to instability.
Afolabi made the call in New York, United States, while speaking at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Global Executive Roundtable on Diplomacy, Multilateralism and Conflict Resolution.
He urged the international community to move beyond responding to conflicts after they erupt and place greater emphasis on preventive diplomacy, sustainable development and economic inclusion, stressing that peace and prosperity are mutually reinforcing.
“Peace creates the environment for investment, investment creates opportunity, and opportunity strengthens the foundations of peace,” he said.
Afolabi noted that the world is currently facing a combination of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, climate pressures, inequality and declining trust in institutions.
He said addressing these challenges requires a coordinated approach built around diplomacy, multilateralism, conflict resolution and sustainable economic development.
He said the connection between peace and development was particularly important for Africa, where infrastructure deficits, financing constraints, trade barriers and limited economic opportunities continue to constrain 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.
The SIFAX Group chairman also called for stronger regional value chains and improved connectivity across African economies, noting that the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, would require more than the signing of trade agreements.
“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,” he said.
Afolabi further highlighted the role of the private sector in creating economic connections capable of strengthening cooperation among communities, businesses and countries.
Drawing on SIFAX Group’s operations across maritime, logistics, aviation, financial services, oil and gas, and hospitality, he said infrastructure and connectivity should be viewed not merely as commercial activities but as important components 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 could create shared interests and incentives for cooperation, making infrastructure an important component of a broader peacebuilding strategy.
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