ECA, AfCFTA Secretariat Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance AfCFTA Implementation

Addis Ababa, February, 19, 2025 (ENA) ---The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the AfCFTA Secretariat have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Addis Ababa to enhance cooperation in supporting the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

This landmark agreement sets the stage for closer collaboration between the two institutions to advance trade integration, industrialization, and private sector development across Africa.

The partnership will focus on developing concrete trade facilitation programs, policy reforms, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure smooth implementation of the AfCFTA.

The MoU establishes a framework for ECA and the AfCFTA Secretariat to work together in key areas, including market access and trade facilitation – supporting the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade.

Promoting industrialization and deeper economic linkages across African economies as well as training and capacity building – strengthening institutional and technical capacities to implement AfCFTA policies, encouraging business engagement in intra-African trade, enhancing trade logistics and cross-border efficiency are the other areas that the two sides agreed to work together.

Through this partnership, both institutions commit to joint research, policy development, and technical assistance to ensure that AfCFTA implementation is inclusive, effective, and beneficial for all African countries, according to a press release issued by ECA.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating: "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."

Similarly, AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene highlighted the significance of the agreement. "This partnership will enable us to accelerate the operationalization of the AfCFTA by leveraging ECA’s expertise in trade policy, economic modeling, and capacity building. Together, we can create a more enabling environment for African businesses and governments to fully utilize AfCFTA’s benefits."

With AfCFTA aiming to create a single African market of 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP of 3.4 trillion USD, this MoU represents a crucial step in unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade.