Draft report of the first session of the Committee on Private Sector Development, Regional Integration, Trade, Infrastructure, Industry and Technology

Abstract

This draft report of the first session of the Committee on the theme of Private sector development and the digital economy in support of regional integration in Africa” highlighted some of the key achievements of the continent in the area of regional integration, including the signing in Kigali of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area by 44 African countries on 21 March 2018, and the launch in Niamey of its operational phase in July 2019. It was noted that these represented momentous steps in the recent integration history of Africa and outlined progress achieved by the regional economic communities in implementing some of the continental initiatives such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063. African member States and the regional economic communities in the area of migration, the free movement of persons across borders, governance, peace and security in promoting regional integration and development. It was indicated that ECA would continue to track the progress of regional integration in the regional economic communities through the use of its Africa Regional Integration Index tools.