By Asmau Ahmad
The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063, represents an opportunity in Africa’s journey towards the implementation of an integrated market.
It is projected that it will eventually culminate in the formation of an African Economic Community, as adopted in the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (Treaty of Abuja) which was adopted on June 3, 1991 and entered into force on May 12, 1994.
It is expected that the accelerated and full implementation of the AfCFTA promotes economic dynamism among the member states of the African Union.
The large economic bloc, together with the promotion of regional value chains, is expected to speed up Africa’s value added to exports and the industrialization process.
The overall objective of the commemoration of the 2022 African Integration Day and Forum was for African governments, the private sector, civil society, RECs and AU partners to deliberate on how to use regional integration processes and initiatives and continent to promote the accelerated economic integration of Africa in its recovery in the post-COVID era.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Vice-Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa emphasized that integration is the very essence of the existence of the African Union and is the component base of the Africa Organization in the early 1960s.
He highlighted some of the progress that AU member states had made to speed up integration despite the global uncertainties and insecurities caused by the ravages of COVID-19. 19 and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, respectively.
Dr Monique called on all African governments, the private sector and civil society organizations to redouble their efforts to give concrete meaning to trade and economic integration in Africa, so that ordinary Africans, across the continent, even in the most remote regions, can reap significant benefits.
Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, Ambassador Albert Muchanga welcoming participants to the celebration of the third edition of Africa Integration Day, mentioned some of the various factors facing the continent.
“Africa’s future in this new global environment lies in deeper economic integration across the continent. We are stronger working together; and, more resistant. We are weaker; and more vulnerable working as individual countries,” he said.
Ambassador Muchanga encouraged African citizens; cross-border traders; schools; colleges; universities; organized labor; and the media, among various stakeholders who will be actively involved in the African economic integration agenda.
“The private sector advocates for an enabling environment to realize our African integration and increase our intra-African trade. We need to have policies so that a special percentage of at least 40 percent of government procurement is allocated to our African businesses, including SMEs, women-owned and youth-owned businesses,” said Dr. Amany Asfour, Chairman of the Business Council from Africa.
He added that, “To increase our intra-African trade, we need to invest in our own resources for industrialization and value addition, and invest in developing the capacity of our human resources, including women and youth.”
Speaking about the importance of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), Mr. Patson Malisa, Deputy Chairman of the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), said: “The Tripartite FTA remains an important component for the integration continent, and the AfCFTA in particular.
He further added that, “TFTA REC Secretariats should be strengthened (through technical assistance and financial support) to improve their preparedness and leverage to participate in AfCFTA.”
Senior officials from AU member states, AU specialized institutions, RECs, UN system institutions and other cooperating development partners, African financial institutions, the private sector, academia, youth, women, civil society and diaspora also attended the event.
In 2019, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union designated July 7 of each year as “African Integration Day” to celebrate major achievements in the regional and continental integration process, and also to deliberate on critical lessons learned, with a view to addressing the challenges they face.
