The private sector in Africa will play a critical role in speeding up industrial development and economic diversification, particularly in the context of the ongoing pandemic and other development challenges, as part of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), says logistics company Imperial Business Intelligence executive Mark Prommel and Imperial marketing and communications VP Melissa Arjoonan. The private sector accounts for about 80% of total production, 67% of investment, 75% of credit and employs 90% of the working age population in Africa.