The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat based in Accra has launched a guided trade initiative for seven member countries.
The seven countries which have signaled their readiness to start trading under AfCFTA are Tanzania, Mauritania, Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda, and Ghana.
Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Wamkele Mene said at least 96 different products from the seven countries could be freely traded under the rules of AfCFTA.
Products approved to trade under AfCFTA include horticultural products, pharmaceuticals, rubber, aluminum kitchenware, sugar, steel, and wooden products. These products originating from Africa will enjoy duty-free and quota-free trading among the partnering countries.
“This is the moment the founding mothers and fathers of the Organization of African Unity have longed (for). We have finally honored and made reality the vision of those who liberated our continent,” said Mr. Mene.
“We are connecting East Africa to West Africa, North Africa to Southern Africa. Trade will be the driver of inclusivity, creating opportunities for young Africans. So we have taken the first journey today, and I hope in 15 years, we will have succeeded in lifting millions and millions of Africans out of poverty.”
Ghanaian Minister for Trade and Industry Alan Kyerematen observed that the launching of guided trade among seven countries was symbolic in many ways.
“It symbolizes that AfCFTA is not just on paper but a reality. And we are moving from talk and negotiations to action. It also symbolizes that governments in Africa who have been involved in the negotiations are now giving way to the private sector to make it a reality,” Mr. Kyerematen stated.
Latest Stories
- Pope Mass in South Sudan: Pontiff urges people to reject ‘venom of hatred’
22 mins - Livestream: UG faces UPSA in the Law Challenge
1 hour - My greatest fear is to lose fame – Kuami Eugene
1 hour - Grammy Awards 2023: How to watch and who will win
2 hours - Death was chattering to me, says writer Hanif Kureishi
3 hours - Liz Truss: I was never given realistic chance to enact tax cuts
3 hours - Princess of Wales shares baby picture of herself
3 hours - Government has distributed over 1m pieces of furniture to pre-tertiary schools so far – Education Ministry
4 hours - I prayed KiDi, King Promise, Kwesi Arthur should not win New Artiste of the Year in 2019 – Kuami Eugene
5 hours - Chris Parry and Andrew Bagshaw’s bodies recovered in prisoner swap – Ukraine
6 hours - Shark kills 16-year-old girl in Australia
6 hours - US shoots down Chinese ‘spy’ balloon over Atlantic
6 hours - Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s ex-president, dies aged 79
7 hours - Encourage China to support our debt restructuring efforts – Akufo-Addo to Germany
7 hours - Conference of Regional Chief Imams reaffirms commitment to unite for development
7 hours