The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreeing to jointly work on advancing trade integration, industrialization, and private sector development across Africa.
In a statement released on Wednesday, ECA said the cooperation agreement, signed in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, aims at expanding market access and trade facilitation and supporting the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade.
The two sides also agreed to promote industrialisation and deeper economic linkages across African economies as well as offer training to strengthen institutional and technical capacities to implement AfCFTA policies and encourage business engagement in intra-African trading.
Both institutions commit to undertake joint research, policy development, and technical assistance to ensure that AfCFTA implementation is inclusive, effective, and beneficial for all African countries.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete emphasised the importance of collaboration, stating: “The implementation of AfCFTA is a transformative opportunity for Africa, but its success depends on strong institutional partnerships. This MoU solidifies our commitment to working with the AfCFTA Secretariat to drive trade integration, enhance market access, and support Africa’s economic development.”
Similarly, AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene highlighted the significance of the agreement. “This partnership will enable us to accelerate the operationalisation of the AfCFTA by leveraging ECA’s expertise in trade policy, economic modeling, and capacity building. Together, we can create a more enabling environment for African businesses and governments to fully utilize AfCFTA’s benefits.”
MG/as/APA