ECA’s Biha urges Africa to rally behind AfCFTA at African Economic Conference

Abstract

Deputy Executive Secretary Giovanie Biha of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on Monday issued an impassioned plea for countries that are yet to sign the historic African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to do so while also urging those that have already signed to ratify the accord so it can go into force. In her opening remarks to the 2018 African Economic Conference that begun in Kigali Monday under the theme; Regional and continental integration for Africa’s development, Ms. Biha said it was time everyone interested in Africa’s future and the continent taking its rightful place on the global arena galvanized around the AfCFTA. Ms. Biha said as with political independence, this ‘economic decolonization’ was thought to be best leveraged through a regional approach. The ECA has already began assisting African countries to develop national AfCFTA implementation strategies that will complement the broader trade policy of each country and identify key trade opportunities, current constraints and steps required to take full advantage of the AfCFTA. The national strategies will also provide guidance on how to set up AfCFTA national implementation committees.