Lomé, the capital of Togo will host a regional workshop on the implementation strategies of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), from 21st to 22nd May.
The workshop is being organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and its Subregional Offices for West Africa and North Africa, with financial support from Open Society Foundations.
This high-level meeting will bring together representatives from ministries of trade, regional economic communities, the private sector, chambers of commerce, SMEs, as well as technical and institutional partners from West and North Africa.
The objective is to assess progress made in the implementation of the AfCFTA, share experiences and best practices, identify persistent challenges, and define priority actions to accelerate the continent’s trade integration.
Communication from the organisers said while Africa is facing the consequences of multidimensional crises, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the resulting disruptions to global supply chains, the workshop will examine the strategic role of the AfCFTA in strengthening the continent’s economic resilience and reducing external dependency.
According to ECA simulations, the full implementation of the AfCFTA could increase intra-African trade by 45 per cent by 2045, representing nearly $276 billion in additional trade, with significant gains in agribusiness, manufacturing, and services. The Agreement also offers a historic opportunity to boost industrialization, economic diversification, and job creation, particularly for youth and women.
The Lomé workshop will also promote mutual peer learning among countries that have already undertaken concrete reforms as part of their national AfCFTA implementation strategies. The discussions are expected to lead to common orientations and strategic measures aimed at accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA and Africa’s economic transformation through a more integrated, resilient, and competitive continental market.