Minister of Commerce at Loveworld Inc., H.E. Sister Stephanie Oforka, has identified trust as a critical foundation for expanding trade, investment and business partnerships across Africa.
She said African economies would struggle to attract sustainable investment and expand intra-African trade unless businesses and institutions developed a reputation for integrity, consistency and quality.
Speaking at the Global Trade and Investment Forum 2026, she said capital, trade and long-term partnerships all depend heavily on trust.
“Capital goes where there is trust. Trade expands where there is trust. Partnerships endure where there is trust. And customers return where there is trust,” she said.
Sister Stephanie Oforka urged businesses to ensure that their products consistently deliver on their promises and that their agreements and business practices inspire confidence among investors, partners and consumers.
“Our standards must be credible. Our agreements must mean something. Our products must consistently deliver on what they promise,” she said.
She also rejected the notion that profitability and integrity were incompatible.
According to her, businesses can create wealth while maintaining strong ethical standards and contributing positively to society.
“We believe businesses can be profitable and principled. We believe that enterprises can create wealth while creating value for society,” she said.
She said the trust deficit could undermine the continent’s efforts to increase investment and intra-African commerce, particularly where businesses from different countries lack confidence in one another.
The minister therefore called for stronger institutions, credible standards and consistent business practices capable of giving investors and consumers the confidence to engage across borders.
She linked the issue of trust to the broader theme of the forum, which focused on production, trust, trade and innovation.
She said Africa needed businesses that were not only productive and innovative but also reliable enough to attract investment and build lasting commercial relationships.
Madam Stephanie Oforka further challenged entrepreneurs to make their businesses investment-ready by adopting financial discipline and establishing structures that would allow capital to move confidently into productive enterprises.
