Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, has reiterated Morocco’s continued commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Morocco was unanimously elected to chair the session and will host its 58th edition in March 2026.
The minister stated the commitment at the opening of the 57th session of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development on Monday in Addis Ababa.
Speaking as chair of this session, Mr. Mezzour described the AfCFTA as a “generational challenge” and a pillar of Agenda 2063 and called for bold steps for its implementation in a changing global context.
He recalled that since its return to the African Union in 2017, Morocco has acted as a bridge between North and South, between tradition and innovation.
The minister emphasized the need for Africa to break its dependence on raw material exports by focusing on competitive value chains.
He cited the example of Morocco, which has become a global fertilizer hub with over 20% of global production, as well as an African centre for automobile production, particularly mentioning the Morocco-DRC-Zambia electric mobility project.
The minister also called for the creation of an AfCFTA Infrastructure Fund to fill the gaps that cost Africa nearly 2 per cent of its annual GDP, by leveraging partnerships with institutions such as the AfDB and Casablanca Finance City.
He also advocated for climate-smart agriculture and a central role for women and youth in SMEs.
In this perspective, the Moroccan statement marks a desire for continental leadership reconciling sustainable industrialization, regional integration and green and digital transitions.
SL/te/fss/gik/APA