ACA Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Dev’t Discusses Critical Areas for AfCFTA Success

​​​​​​Addis Ababa, March 19, 2025— The 57th session of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (COM) successfully convened from 17–18 March 2025 at the ECA Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

 The Conference convened from 17–18 March 2025 at the ECA Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The conference also brought together African finance, planning and trade ministers, central bank governors, regional institutions, development partners, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations and the private sector.

 

Nearly 400 participants attended the conference, including 30 high-level ministerial representatives from member
states.

This year’s conference was held under the theme “Advancing the Implementation of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area: Proposing Transformative Strategic Actions.”

​​​​​The opening ceremony featured a keynote address by Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske Selassie, who underscored the importance of accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a cornerstone of the continent’s economic transformation.

Discussions during the conference centered on critical areas essential to the success of AfCFTA, including infrastructure development, cross-border instant payment systems, digital inclusion, and the role of special economic zones in fostering regional value chains.

Delegates also explored strategies to enhance trade facilitation and industrialization across Africa.

To mark the occasion, the Ethiopia hosted a state dinner on 17 March 2025 at the Skylight Hotel, extending a warm welcome to all participants.

Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, delivered welcoming remarks, emphasizing the conference’s pivotal role in strengthening Africa’s economic integration and cooperation.

The ministerial sessions were preceded by technical discussions held from 12–14 March 2025, during which experts formulated key recommendations and draft resolutions aimed at expediting AfCFTA’s implementation.

These recommendations were subsequently reviewed and adopted by the ministers during the conference.

In conclusion, the conference announced that the 58th session of COM will be held in Morocco in 2026, under the theme “Growth through Innovation: Harnessing Data and Frontier Technologies for Africa’s Economic Transformation.