Addis Ababa, 17 February 2025 (ECA) - The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the AfCFTA Secretariat have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in supporting the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The signing ceremony took place during the Africa Business Forum (ABF 2025) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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 MoU establishes a framework for ECA and the AfCFTA Secretariat to work together in key areas, including:
- Market Access & Trade Facilitation – Supporting the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade.
- Industrial & Regional Value Chains – Promoting industrialization and deeper economic linkages across African economies.
- Training & Capacity Building – Strengthening institutional and technical capacities to implement AfCFTA policies.
- Customs & Transit Systems – Enhancing trade logistics and cross-border efficiency.
- Private Sector Development – Encouraging business engagement in intra-African trade.
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.
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, saying:
"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, this MoU represents a crucial step in unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade. The partnership will focus on developing concrete trade facilitation programs, policy reforms, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure smooth implementation of the AfCFTA.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org