The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat have formally partnered to bolster trade integration and economic development across the continent. This collaboration was solidified through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the Africa Business Forum 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The MoU establishes a comprehensive framework for both institutions to collaborate on key areas essential for the successful implementation of the AfCFTA.
These areas include market access and trade facilitation, aimed at removing tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade; promotion of industrialization and regional value chains to deepen economic linkages among African economies; and training and capacity building to enhance institutional and technical capabilities for executing AfCFTA policies.
Additionally, the partnership focuses on improving customs and transit systems to streamline trade logistics and cross-border efficiency, as well as fostering private sector development to encourage business engagement in intra-African trade.
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ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete emphasized the transformative potential of the AfCFTA. He remarked, “The implementation of AfCFTA is a transformative opportunity for Africa, but its success depends on strong institutional partnerships. This MoU solidifies our commitment to working with the AfCFTA Secretariat to drive trade integration, enhance market access, and support Africa’s economic development.”
AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, highlighted the significance of the agreement, noting that the collaboration will expedite the operationalization of the AfCFTA by leveraging ECA’s expertise in trade policy, economic modeling, and capacity building.
In a related development, the African Union (AU) has officially designated Nigeria as the Digital Trade Champion for the continent under the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol. This endorsement recognizes Nigeria’s significant efforts in promoting digital enterprise and innovation.
