Members of Africa's National and Regional Parliaments have praised the AfCFTA Secretariat for its forward-thinking initiatives in developing the essential mechanisms, resources, and frameworks to speed up the establishment of Africa's unified continental market.
Members of national and regional parliaments across the continent, responding to a speech by the AfCFTA Secretariat's Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, at the 2025 Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments, commended the recently organized Intra Africa Trade Forum, co-hosted by the AfCFTA Secretariat, Afreximbank, and the African Union, as a demonstration of the significant initiatives underway to encourage trade among African businesses within the continent.
In his speech at the 2025 Conference of Speakers of national and regional parliaments, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Mr Mene, stated that significant progress has been made through the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI). By June 2025, a total of 8,561 AfCFTA Certificates of Origin had been issued, compared to 2,850 in 2024 and only 13 in 2022, indicating strong participation from the private sector and highlighting the Agreement's success in boosting trade within Africa.
He mentioned that trade within Africa increased to $220.3 billion in 2024, marking a 12.4% recovery.
Beyond the statistics, the nature of trade is changing. Specifically, manufactured goods such as machinery, vehicles, food items, chemicals, and electronics are becoming more prominent compared to raw materials. This indicates a slow but significant move towards economic diversification. Nevertheless, trade within Africa was still $77 billion less than it could have been, highlighting the importance of investing in transportation, logistics, and digital systems.
He mentioned that the AfCFTA is advancing in trade within the services sector, with twenty-four Commitment Schedules already approved in critical areas like business, finance, communication, tourism, and transportation, along with regulatory structures to ensure consistency.
“We are also creating guidelines for Mutual Recognition Agreements to enable professionals to work across borders more conveniently.
The UN Secretary-General mentioned that in the field of agro-processing, new efforts are connecting farmers, processors, and traders. Additionally, programs such as the Fisheries initiative, which focuses on women and youth in various countries, are generating employment opportunities and increasing exports. In the textiles and apparel sector, a continental action plan has been created with input from the private sector.
The automobile sector is also a key focus. In collaboration with Afreximbank and industry groups, we have introduced the AfCFTA Automotive Strategy supported by a $1 billion fund. As the origin rules are almost completed, this sector holds significant potential to boost employment, high-value production, and investment throughout Africa.
The UN Secretary-General noted comparable advancements in the pharmaceutical sector and urged that industrialization be inclusive, offering opportunities for women, youth, and small and medium enterprises.
"Through the Women and Youth in Trade Protocol, the Adjustment Fund, and our approach to engaging the private sector, we are making sure that the AfCFTA creates opportunities for those who require them the most," Mr Mene stated.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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